The BSE benchmark Sensex regained the 18,000 points level in opening trade today. The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, which had lost 332 points in the previous session, recovered by 113 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 18,106 in the first few minutes of trade on Tuesday. Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also moved up by 28 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 5,415. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei index was trading 0.11 per cent higher and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.10 per cent in early trade on Tuesday. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.05 per cent lower in Monday's trade.