From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 01:30 PM IST

Indian equity markets extended their loss in early afternoon trade Thursday. Banking, realty and capital goods stocks were the worst hit.

At 1:00 p.m., the 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, was at 15,101.40, down 320.91 points or 2.08 percent from its closing figure Wednesday. At the day's low it had touched 15,075.14 points.

The market breadth was negative. On BSE 708 shares advanced, 1,699 declined and 83 remained unchanged.

At the same time the broader based S and amp;P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange was down by 78.50 points or 1.71 percent at 4,503.90.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)