Mumbai, May 5 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday was ruling 1.13 percent lower than its previous close, a couple of hours into trade amid weak Asian cues.

Global bourses are supposed to tread with caution in the coming days, after reports that the economies of more European countries could find it difficult to repay their debts.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,103.95 points, was ruling at 16,944.16 points, 192.98 points or 1.13 percent lower than its previous close at 17,137.14 points.

It had dipped to 16,858.23 points earlier.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,084.3 points, a loss of 1.25 percent from its previous close at 5,148.5 points.

Broader market indices were also in the red with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.28 percent down and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.57 percent lower.

The market breadth was tilted towards the negative with as many as 510 scrips advancing compared to 2,030 stocks declining, while 68 remained unchanged.

Metals, consumer durables, and realty stocks were witnessing selling, while consumer durables scrips were up.

Asian markets were trading in the red too, after fears grew that after Greece more European countries like Portugal, Spain were in not a comfortable position to service their sovereign debts.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was trading 2.11 percent lower at 20,324.73 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Compositie index was ruling 0.31 percent down at 2,826.38 points.

The Japanese and South Korean markets were closed.