Mumbai, Jul 27 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities slipped further around Wednesday noon even as interest rate sensitive stocks like banking and auto continued to fall, a day after the Reserve Bank of India hiked key interest rates.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,571.15 points, was ruling at 18,413.16 points, down 105.06 points or 0.57 percent from its previous close at 18,518.22 points.

The Sensex had lost about 350 points on Tuesday following RBI's rate hike.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading dull at 5,541.4 points, down 0.6 percent.

Broader markets too were ruling with a negative bias.

Consumer durables were the only sector among the 13 indices on the BSE that was in the green.

The market breadth was negative with 1,184 stocks advancing, 1,398 scrips declining and 133 remaining unchanged.

Asian markets were mixed in the green as traders were nervous about the political impasse in the US over managing the country's debt problems.

The Japanese Nikkei Thursday closed 0.5 percent lower at 10,047.19 points.

The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange was ruling 0.05 percent up at 22,584 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was trading 0.72 percent up at 2,722.46 points.