A benchmark index of Indian equities markets slumped 122.50 points or 0.60 percent in the pre-noon trade Thursday.

 

 Selling pressure was seen in banking index (bankex), oil and gas, capital goods and healthcare sectors.

 

 The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,478.67 points, was trading at 20,325.99 points in the pre-noon session, down 122.50 points or 0.60 percent from the previous day's close at 20,448.49 points.

 

 The Sensex touched a high of 20,503.86 points and a low of 20,313.79 points during the trade so far.

 

 The S&P BSE bankex plunged by 142.45 points, oil and gas index plummeted by 62.04 points, capital goods index dropped by 56.80 points and healthcare index went down by 58.47 points. 

 

 The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading down 45.85 points or 0.75 percent at 6,038.15 points.