By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday was 211 points lower about two hours after opening bell Wednesday, joining other Asian markets southwards.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,708.6 points, was at 16,569.14 points, down 211.43 points or 1.25 percent from its previous close at 16,780.46 points.
It had slipped over 243 points about 40 minutes after the opening bell.
Around 11 a.m., at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 4,943.4 points, against the previous close at 5,007.9 points, a loss of 1.29 percent.
Broader markets were also hit by selling pressure, with the BSE midcap index down 0.8 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.89 percent lower.
Among the major gainers were ITC, up 1.63 percent at Rs.259; Reliance Communications, up 0.73 percent at Rs.180.40; RIL, up 0.32 percent at Rs.1,045; and Tata Power, up 0.24 percent at Rs.1,322.
Top losers included M&M, down 4.23 percent at Rs.1,027; Hero Honda, down 4.14 percent at Rs.1,551; Tata Motors, down 4.21 percent at Rs.1,549.90; and ICICI Bank, down 3.59 percent at Rs.801.75.
Most other Asian markets were also in the red, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, trading 0.37 percent lower at 10,287.11 points, and the Korean Kospi down 0.4 percent down at 1,630.77 points.
The Chinese Shanghai composite index too was in the negative terrain, at 3,015.82 points, 0.12 percent down.
However, the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was 0.54 percent higher at 20,218.38 points, as investors looked to cover short positions.