The Sensex at the Bombay stock Exchange rose 24 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 18,024 in early trade, today, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, amid positive regional markets. Later, after giving up all its inital gains, and briefly moving into the red, the Sensex recovered again, to stand 19 points, or 0.1 percent in positive territory, at 18,019 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. The Sensex had gained almost 690 points in the past six trading sessions.Other Asian markets in Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan were modestly higher, today, as investors remained cautiously optimistic for further stimulus action by the US central bank to bolster the world's largest economy. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.1 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.