Mumbai, Oct 17 (IANS) The mayhem in Indian stock markets continued Friday with a key index dropping below the psychologically important 10,000-point mark after having crossed an all-time high of 21,206.77 points in January.The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the oft-quoted market barometer, was languishing at 9,912.01 points minutes before the closing bell, with a loss of 669.48 points or 6.33 percent over the previous close.

The index opened on a positive note after two successive days of losses, but was ruling flat post-noon amid some volatile trading, as sentiments remained nervous over possible recession in the US.

Each of the 13 sector-specific indices were in the red, as was the case with the 30 shares that make up the Sensex - which has shed more than 25 percent over the past month.