The BSE benchmark Sensex which opened over 62 points in opening trade, was trading at 18,549 points, up by 36 points a short while ago. The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index was also up by 11 points at 5,552 points. Japan's Nikkei index was trading 0.65 per cent higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.28 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.60 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.