The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by over 35 points in opening trade today as foreign funds and retail investors offloaded positions ahead of tomorrow's RBI credit policy review amid high inflation. The 30-share barometer, which gained over 42 points in yesterday's volatile session, fell to 18,272 in the first few minutes of trade. Stocks of banking, realty and IT companies were under pressure, dragging the Sensex down.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index slid by over 12 points to 5,488. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was trading point 12 per cent lower, but Japan's Nikkei moved up by point 44 per cent this morning. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.03 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.