The BSE benchmark Sensex shed 44 points in opening trade today. The 30-share BSE index, which lost 148.45 points in the previous session, declined further by 44.49 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 16,892.40 in the first few minutes of trade.In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty Index shed 11.40 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 5,080.50.