The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today opened almost 44 points higher than yesterday trade. The 30-share index, which had lost 67 points in the previous session, gained 43points or 0.24 per cent to 18,263 points in the opening trade. The wide-based National Stock Exchange's Nifty also gained 12.55 points or 0.20 per cent to 5,473.