Mumbai, Jan 7 - A benchmark index of Indian equities Friday continued to be in consolidation mode, ruling 173 points lower around noon amid subdued cues from Asian bourses.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,163.85 points, was ruling at 20,011.69 points, down 173.05 points or 0.86 percent from its previous close at 20,184.74 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,006.55 points, down 0.69 percent or 41.7 points.

Broader markets were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.93 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.1 percent down.

All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the negative, with those for auto, metals and consumer durables losing the most.

The market breadth was negative, with 825 stocks advancing, compared to 1,933 scrips on the decline, while 92 stocks were unchanged.

Among the major gainers were ICICI Bank, Reliance Com, Cipla and Reliance Infra while prominent losers included Hindalco Industries, M&M, Tata Motors and Bharti Airtel.

Other major bourses in Asia were sluggish with traders cautious ahead of the widely tracked monthly US jobs data on Friday.

The Japanese Nikkei index closed dull, up 0.11 percent at 10,541.04 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index moved 0.29 percent higher at 2,832.49 points.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was struggling, at 23,750.56 points, down 0.15 percent. (IANS)