Mumbai, Feb 1 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets slumped below 18,000 points Tuesday on heavy selling pressure in auto, technology and realty scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,425.18 points, slumped below 18,000 points mark in the last hour of trading.

The Sensex marginally pared the losses and closed at 18,022.22 points, down 305.54 percent or 1.67 percent from its previous close at 18,327.76 points.

The benchmark Sensex touched a low of 17,982.17 points and high of 18,452.06 points in the intra-day.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed deep in the red. The index settled at 5,417.20 points, down 1.61 percent or 88.70 points.

The Nifty touched intraday low of 5,402 points and high of 5,539.15 points.

Tata Motors plunged nearly seven percent. Jindal Steel 4.34 percent down at Rs.634.65, Jaiprakash Asso down 4.32 percent at Rs.79.75, L&T down 3.66 percent at Rs.1,581.10, and Reliance Comm down 3.47 percent at Rs.118.35 were among the major Sensex losers.

Only three of the 30 scrips that form Sensex managed to close in the positive. Sterlite Inds, up 0.64 percent at Rs.165; HDFC, up 0.36 percent at Rs.632; and Hindalco Inds, up 0.20 percent at Rs.229.85 were the only gainers.

Broader markets closed in the red as well with the BSE midcap index settling 1.63 percent down and the BSE smallcap index 1.44 percent lower.