The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 165.05 points or 1.97 percent down at 8,216.05 points.
The 30-scrip BSE Sensex, which opened at 27,451.07 points, was trading at 27,281.25 points (at 12.27 p.m.), down 530.59 points or 1.91 percent from its previous day’s close at 27,811.84 points.
The BSE Sensex touched a high of 27,451.07 points and a low of 27,209.19 points so far in the trade.
Almost all the sectors were trading in the red. Heavy selling pressure was seen in realty, banking, consumer durables and metal sectors.
The S&P BSE realty index fell by 2.80 percent, bankex plunged by 2.59 percent, consumer durables index dropped by 2.54 percent and metal index plummeted by 2.43 percent. (IANS)