Mumbai, July 10 (Inditop.com) A key index of the Indian equities markets crashed towards closing bell Friday ending trade more than 318 points lower than its last close.

The 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened at 13,803.12 points, fell 318.74 points or 2.32 percent to 13,438.72 points (provisional).

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) similarly closed 2.27 percent lower at 3,988.3 points.

Broader market indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index up 2.6 percent and the BSE smallcap index trading 2.47 percent lower.