Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading down at 170.13 points or 0.81 percent in the pre-noon trade Friday.

The sectors which saw maximum selling pressure were banking index (bankex), capital goods, oil and gas and metal.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,867.17 points, was trading at 20,755.48 points in the pre-noon session, down 170.13 points or 0.81 percent from the previous day's close at 20,925.61 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,867.17 points and a low of 20,747.40 points during the trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex plunged 258.09 points, capital goods index dipped 161.30 points, metal index slipped 89.49 points and oil and gas index dropped by 84.63 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also was trading down by 54.85 points or 0.88 percent at 6,182.20 points.