The 30-share index BSE Sensex fell into the negative terrain on account of heavy selling activity in metal and blue-chip stocks.

Oil & gas, auto and IT stocks have edged up a bit from their earlier lows. Metal stocks continue to trade weak, while realty and FMCG sectors too have bounced back from their lower levels.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index lost 1.42% and 1.96% respectively.

Today, the Indian stock market belled the day after losing 364.98 points at 9,755.03.

At 2:19 p.m., the 30-share index Sensex lost 223.97 points at 9,896.04. It also touched a high of 9,949.61 and a low of 9,635.22. In the meantime, the broad based Nifty stood at 2,949.35, down 45.60 points, after hitting a high of 2,998.65 and a low of 2,860.25.

The total market breadth was weak. Out of 2,476 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,638 fell sharply. 763 stocks recorded gains and 75 remained unchanged

The major gainers in the 30-share index included Ranbaxy Laboratories (4.96%), Hindustan Unilever (2.04%), Mahindra & Mahindra (1.85%), ITC (1.47%), Jaiprakash Associates (1.43%) and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (0.43%).

The major losers were Tata Motors (12.80%), Tata Steel (12.05%), Sterlite Industries (India) (9.62%), Bharti Airtel (6.10%), Reliance Industries (6.01%) and Hindalco Industries (5.63%).