Sensex sheds 130 points during afternoon trade as rupee tanks

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets slipped 130 points or 0.71 percent during afternoon trade Tuesday as the rupee further dipped to touch a new record low of 64.11 against a dollar.

Good buying was observed in metal and banking index (bankex) sectors; while selling pressure was seen in auto, consumer durables, IT and healthcare sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,142.83 points, was trading at 18,177.68 points in the afternoon session, down 129.84 points or 0.71 percent from the previous day's close at 18,307.52 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,306.46 points and a low of 17,970.98 points during trade so far.

The S&P BSE metal index increased by 262.55 points and bankex went up by 61.60 points; however, consumer durables index plummeted by 201.52 points, auto index slipped by 224.21 points, healthcare index dipped by 143.37 points and IT index dropped by 109.14 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 26.35 points or 0.49 percent down at 5,388.40 points.