A benchmark index of Indian equities markets slumped 100.84 points or 0.49 percent in the pre-noon trade Thursday.
Selling pressure was seen in banking, metal and oil and gas sectors.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,661.07 points, was trading at 20,622.13 points in the pre-noon session, down 100.84 points or 0.49 percent from the previous day's close at 20,722.97 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 20,662.66 points and a low of 20,589.03 points during the trade so far.
The S&P BSE bankex plunged by 190.22 points, oil and gas index plummeted by 36.36 points and metal index dropped by 61.17 points.
The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading down 31.50 points or 0.51 percent at 6,121.25 points.
