Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday fell sharply in noon trade, having started on a weak note in the morning session.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,910.27 points, was ruling 16,653.95 points, down 186.85 points or 1.11 percent compared to its previous close at 16,840.8 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading 1.19 percent lower at 4,996.4 points.
The midcap and smallcap indices on the BSE were ruling in the red. Broader market indices like the BSE 500 were down over a percent.
The market breadth at the BSE was negative, with 706 stocks moving up, compared to 1,690 on the decline and 107 remaining unchanged.
Among gainers on the BSE were DLF, Hero MotoCorp, Hindustan Unilever and Bharti Airtel while losers included Wipro, ICICI Bank, TCS and Jindal Steel.
IT, telecom, oil and banking stocks fell, while realty and FMCG scrips rose.
Other major Asian markets were ruling in the red as well.
The benchmark Japanese Nikkei was ruling 1.25 percent lower at 8,943.76 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.81 percent down at 2,580.19 points.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng too was ruling 0.5 percent down at 20,187.65 points.