Mumbai, Oct 27: Indian stock markets crashed on Monday, with the benchmark Sensex plunging below the psychological 8,000 level in afternoon trading.

Tracking weak global trend, the benchmark Sensex lost over 750 points to hit an over three-year low of 7,939 in afternoon trade on fresh selling by funds.

At 12:52 p. m., the 30-share index, which fell by nearly 2,000 points in the past three sessions, slid by another 762.05 points or 8.76 percent at 7,939.02, a level last seen on November 2, 2005.

Tokyo - Asian markets plummeted to new lows Monday, with Japan's key Nikkei index leading the plunge, as investors across the region stepped up panic-selling on concerns that tumbling share values would drag economies into recession.

Stocks in Tokyo nosedived, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 tumbled 486.18 points, or 6.36 per cent, to close at 7,162.9, the lowest level in 26 years. The market crisis has shaved off half the value off the Nikkei this year.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 59.65 points, or 7.4 per cent, to 746.46.

The Bank of Japan injected 600 billion yen (6.37 billion dollars) into the money markets Monday to ease a credit crunch as stocks prices plunged.

Seoul - Shares on the Seoul stock exchange bucked slides on other Asian markets Monday, edging up after a larger-than-expected interest-rate cut by South Korea's central bank.

The local currency, however, continued to fall against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi index rose 7.7 points, or 0.8 per cent, to close at 946.45 while the main index of the technology-heavy Kosdaq market declined 18.5 points to 261.19.

New Delhi - Indian markets slid by more than 6 per cent soon after opening Monday, tracking drops on other Asian markets.

The benchmark 30-share Sensitive Index of the Bombay Stock Exchange dipped by more than 6 per cent to 8,051, its lowest point in three years, soon after opening. It recovered marginally and was trading at 8,279.27, about 4.85 per cent lower, by mid-morning.

The broader 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange also dipped by 6.39 per cent and was trading at 2,418.9.

Taipei - Taiwan's b

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks nosedived Monday, sending the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average to its lowest level in 26 years.

The Nikkei tumbled 486.18 points, or 6.36 per cent, to 7,162.9. The index has lost half its value this year.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 59.65 points, or 7.4 per cent, to 746.46.

The Bank of Japan injected 600 billion yen (6.37 billion dollars) into the money markets Monday to ease a credit crunch as stocks prices plunged.