The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by almost 44 points to 18,462 in early trade today as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits after yesterday's gains. The 30-share barometer gained 74.53 points in the last session.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 11 points to 5,609.In Asia, Japan's Nikkei Index gained 0.08 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.31 per cent in early trade today. In the US market, which resumed after a two-day shutdown forced by superstorm Sandy, Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.08 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.