The key benchmark continued their downward trend today on account of losses in Asian markets and heavy selling action seen across the majority of sectors.

IT stocks were hammered badly, while stocks from the realty sector remained in the limelight.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap were up by 0.69% and 0.57% respectively.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and inflation data are awaited later during the day.

At 10:55 a.m., the benchmark Sensex was down 120.90 points to 9,497.64 levels. It also hit a high of 9,574.26 and a low of 9,486.52.

In the broader markets, the Nifty has slipped 18.35 points to 2,907.35 after touching a high of 2,939.00 and a low of 2,897.85.

The 30-share index, BSE Sensex belled today’s session with a loss of 59.51 points, at 9,559.03, as gainst its last closure in which it lost 28.93 points.

The overall market breadth of the market was positive as it saw 984 progressions as against 641 declinations.

Stocks topping the gainers’ list included Reliance Capital, Maruti Suzuki India, ACC, DLF, Reliance Communications and Jaiprakash Associates.

On the other hand, the major losers’ were Ranbaxy Laboratories, Grasim Industries, Tata Steel, Sterlite Industries (India), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation and Infosys Technologies.

The Indian currency was marginally weaker today following falls in Asian stock markets, although it found some support from the dollar’s weakness against the yen.

According to dealers, the rupee was expected to trade in a narrow band prior to inflation and industrial data due around noon (0630 GMT).

At 10 a.m. (0430 GMT), the partially convertible rupee stood at 48.72/73 per dollar, marginally weaker than its last closure (Wednesday, Feb 11) of 48.69/70.