Mumbai, Aug 6 - Indian equities markets were ruling in the red Thursday afternoon with a key index trading 237 points lower than its previous close.

At 2.50 p.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,881.47 points, was ruling 237.74 points or 1.49 percent down at 15,666.09 points.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, was ruling in the red at 4,625.45 points, down 1.46 percent from the previous close.

Broader market indices also moved into negative terrain with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.2 percent lower, while the BSE small cap index was trading 0.1 percent down.