The 30�'scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,349.53 points, was ruling at 18,308.95 points around 12.30 p.m., down 0.42 points from its previous close at 18,309.37 points.
The benchmark index touched a high of 18,386.78 points and low of 18,269.56 points intra�'day. The BSE midcap index was lower by 48.55 points and the smallcap index was down by 40.14 points.
The wider 50�'scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange slumped 8.75 points or 0.16 percent at 5,565.30 points.
There was heavy selling pressure in metals, capital goods and bank stocks.
The BSE metals index was down 65.52 points, while the capital goods index was lower by 64.35 points, followed by bank index, down 48.26 points.
However, BSE auto index was up 113.27 points.
Among the other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei rose 1.43 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.35 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index was higher by 0.05 percent.
