There were only three gainers on the 30-stock Sensex at this time: Bharti Airtel, up 3.29 percent at Rs.395.10; Sun Pharma, up 2.51 percent at Rs.1,2365, and ITC, up 0.47 percent at Rs.226.50.

Among losers on the Sensex were Tata Steel, down 4.61 percent at Rs.441.80; TCS, down 3.4 percent at Rs.523.30; Sterlite, down 3.23 percent at Rs.614.50, and L&T, down 2.89 percent at Rs.1,402.75.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed 150.46 points in the red at 10,435 points, a loss of 1.42 percent compared to its previous close.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, too, was ruling in the negative terrain at 20,666.51 points, down 407.7 points or 1.93 percent.