Mumbai, Dec 9 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities slumped nearly 200 points in afternoon trading Thursday on continued selling pressure in realty, auto and banking scrips.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 19,746.15 points, slipped in the red in the midsession. The index was trading nearly one percent down in the afternoon.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was also trading nearly one percent down at 5,850 points.

Most sectoral indices were trading deep in the red as selling pressure was across the board.

The BSE smallcap index plunged over four percent and the BSE midcap index was trading nearly three percent down.

The country’s largest lender State Bank of India was trading nearly three percent down. The scrip slumped over two percent Wednesday.