Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Indian equities were trading weak mid-afternoon Thursday, with a key index slipping 2 percent lower than its previous close. The sensitive index (Sensex) of the 30-scrip Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened the day at 17,199.05 points against Wednesday’s close at 17,198.95 points, and was ruling at 16,855.4 points around 2.42 p.m., down 2 percent or 343.55 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 4,993.55 points against the previous close at 5,108.15 points, reflecting a loss of 2.24 percent.

Broader market indices were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index down 1.28 percent and the BSE small cap index ruling 1.03 percent lower.

The market breadth was negative, with 831 stocks advancing, 1,851 scrips declining and 80 remaining unchanged.

Other major Asian markets were dull.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, closed 0.62 percent or 58.4 points down at 9,383.24 points.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ended at 22,210.41 points, 1.78 percent or 401.39 points lower.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was ruling at 1,599.52 points, down 0.77 percent.

In China, the Shanghai composite index was ruling 3.62 percent in the red at 3,170.98 points.