Ahead of the RBI's monetary policy review, the BSE benchmark Sensex edged up by 13.53 points to 18,649.35 in early trade today on selective buying by participants amid hopes of a rate cut. The 30-share barometer had gained 10.48 points in the previous session.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty gained 3.60 points to 5,669.20.Meanwhile, in Asia, Japan's Nikkei was up by 0.41 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.18 per cent.The US markets remained closed yesterday because of Hurricane Sandy.