Mumbai, Oct 20 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday continued to trade weaker and was ruling 335 points lower in noon trade with most of the heavyweights on the index under selling pressure. Broader markets too tumbled.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,911.85 points, was ruling at 16,749.56 points, down 335.78 points or 1.97 percent from its previous close at 17,085.34 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading lower, 1.96 percent or 100.6 points down at 5,038.55 points.

Broader markets were also in the red with the BSE 500 index down 1.63 percent. The BSE midcap index was down 0.83 percent, while the BSE small cap index was ruling 0.67 percent lower.

The market breadth at the BSE was negative with 803 stocks on the advance, 1,682 declining and 98 unchanged.

There were only two gainers on the Sensex at this time: Sun Pharma and Maruti Suzuki. Losers included HDFC, DLF, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, and HDFC Bank.

Asian markets fell as fears about the Euro zone debt crisis lingered and the US Federal Reserve cautioned that the US economy was still weak.

The Japanese Nikkei Thursday closed 1.03 percent lower at 8,682.15 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 2.34 percent down at 17,881.41 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index was ruling 1.76 percent lower at 2,335.58 points.