The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 85 points to 18,710.50 in early trade today on buying by funds and retailers ahead of RBI policy review amid a mixed Asian trend. Later the Sensex trimmed initial gains and was down by 23 points to 18,601 in the afternoon trade a short while ago.Meanwhile, in Asia, Japan's Nikkei was up by 0.24 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.49 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.03 per cent higher in the previous session.