Bangalore: The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by over 85 points in early trade on buying by funds and retailers ahead of RBI policy review amid a mixed Asian trend.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost 133.29 points in the previous session on Friday, recovered by 85.15 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 18,710.50 within the first five minutes of trade.

The recovery was led by oil and gas, auto and banking sectors stocks.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 22.00 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 5,686.30.

Brokers said buying in interest sensitive stocks by funds and retail investors on expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India in its policy review tomorrow and a mixed trend in Asian region influenced the trading sentiment here.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Japan's Nikkei was up by 0.24 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.49 per cent in early trade today.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.03 per cent higher in the previous session.