Mumbai: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading lower by nearly 300 points in afternoon trade Thursday, as metal, realty and banking stocks plummeted.

The 30-scrip Sensex, which opened at 19,549.05 points, was ruling at 19,373, down 286.24 points or 1.46 percent from its previous close at 19,642.75 points.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,554.65 points and a low of 19,356.51 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading lower by 85.35 points or 1.44 percent at 5,857.70 points.

All the sectoral indices of the exchange were in the red.

Domestic shares extend fall, tracking weak regional stocks on market talk of a hedge fund liquidating big global positions in commodities and worries that the US Federal Reserve could wind down its bond-buying programme.