MUMBAI:  The benchmark BSE Sensex rose almost 63 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retail investors ahead of the monthly expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 40.09 points in the previous session, moved up by 62.65 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 22,157.95, with stocks of healthcare, realty, power, auto, metal and banking sectors leading the rise. Also, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 6.60 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 6,608.00.

Brokers said sustained inflow of foreign funds and covering up of pending short positions by speculators, as today is the last session of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, influenced the trading sentiment. However, a weak trend on other Asian bourses, in line with overnight losses in the U.S. markets, restricted the gains on the domestic bourses, they said.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei fell 1.18 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 0.72 percent in early trade. The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.60 percent down in Wednesday's trade.