Mumbai, April 19 (Inditop.com) A key Indian equities index Monday joined its poorly performing Asian peers and was ruling 1.51 percent lower from the previous close.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,584.86 points, was ruling at 17,326.19 points, down 264.99 points or 1.51 percent from its previous close at 17,591.18 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,196.85 points against the previous close at 5,262.6 points – a loss of 1.25 percent.

Broader market indices were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index down 1.48 percent and the BSE small cap index ruling 1.87 percent lower.

All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the negative, with metals, realty and energy scrips facing the selling pressure.

The market breadth was negative with 707 stocks advancing, compared to 2,064 on the decline, while 132 remained unchanged.

Among the other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 2.62 percent lower at 21,292.77 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index lost a whopping 4.79 percent at 2,980.3 points.

The South Korean Kospi closed 1.68 percent down at 1,705.3 points, while the Japanese Nikkei shut shop in the red at 10,908.77 points — down 1.74 percent.