Sensex dips 1.09 percent in pre-noon trade

After the rupee fell to a record low of Rs.58.64 against the dollar, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets plummeted 1.09 percent during the pre-noon trade Tuesday.

Fear is looming large among investors due to the continued weakness of the rupee.

Selling pressure was seen across all the sectors. It was led by metal stocks, followed by consumer durables, public sector units, auto, banking index (bankex) and oil and gas.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,382.22 points, was trading at 19,229.36 points in the pre-noon session, down 211.71 points or 1.09 percent from Monday's close of 19,441.07 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,418.74 points and a low of 19,202.02 points in pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE metal index tanked by 361.25 points, consumer durables plunged by 198.98 points, the PSU index dipped by 101.45 points, the auto index slid by 157.20 points, bankex slipped by 189.20 points and oil and gas was down by 107.36 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading down at 0.50 percent or 29.25 points down at 5,848.75 points.