The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 77 points to 18,709 in early trade today on the back of covering-up of short positions by participants in view of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment. The 30-share index had shed 62 points yesterday. All sectoral indices, led by auto and consumer durables, were trading in the positive zone with gains of up to 0.68 per cent.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was up 22 points to 5,685.Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong market gained 0.44 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index fell by 0.21 per cent. The US dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.33 per cent down in yesterday's trade.