The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 88 points to 17,746 in early trade today, on fresh buying by funds and retail investors. Later, the Sensex remained firm and stood 72 points in the green at 17,729 in afternoon deals, a shortwhile ago.Other Asian markets in Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan were trading mixed, today. The US Dow Jones industrial average index had ended 0.7 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.