Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS): Anxiety over the outcome of the Bihar assembly polls coupled with upcoming US jobs data dented investors' sentiments in the Indian equity markets and led a barometer index to provisionally close 287 points down on Thursday.

Both the bellwether indices of the Indian equity markets opened in the negative territory in sync with European and Asian markets. Lackluster quarterly results and absence of any major positive triggers eroded investors' confidence.

On Thursday, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the day's trade deep in the red. It was lower by 94 points or 1.17 percent at 7,946.30 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 26,557.80 points, provisionally closed at 26,265.76 points (3.30 p.m.) -- down 287.16 points or 1.08 percent from the previous day's close at 26,552.92 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,557.80 points and a low of 26,243.20 points in the intra-day trade.