Mumbai - Extending their fall, the benchmark BSE Sensex slipped below the 28,000 level and the NSE Nifty dropped below the 8,400 mark at midsession as funds and retail investors indulged in selling activity amid weak global cues after crude oil dipped to fresh five-year lows.

After opening in negative terrain on continued selling activity by participants, the Sensex dipped below the psychological 28,000-mark to touch a low of 27,869.92. It, however, recovered marginally to 27,911.35, down by 208.05 points, or 0.74 percent at 1330 hours.

Major losers that pulled down the Sensex and Nifty from crucial levels were Sesa Sterlite, Tata Power, NTPC, Hindalco, Bhyarti Airtel, ONGC, Tata Steel, BHEL, SBI, Axis Bank, L&T, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Coal India, RIL and Cipla.

The 30-share index had lost 443.42 points in the previous two sessions.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty slipped below the crucial 8,400-level by losing 64.00 points, or 0.76 percent, to 8,374.25. It shuttled between 8,444.50 and 8,362.30.

Sentiments dampened after current account deficit widened to USD 10.1 billion, or 2.1 percent of GDP, in July-September quarter of this fiscal, up from 1.2 percent a year ago.

Brokers said sustained selling by participants in bluechip stocks that recently logged gains and a weak trend in global markets after oil prices skidded to fresh five-year lows led to the fall in markets.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 4,984.60 crore yesterday, according to provisional data from the stock exchange.

Bucking the trend, shares of Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy, HDFC Bank, M&M, TCS and Hero MotoCorp were trading in positive zone and cushioned the fall.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 2.51 percent, while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.68 percent. European markets were down in their opening trade.

(PTI)