Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS): Indian equities markets pared some of its losses Thursday afternoon with a benchmark index moving up from the day's lows. The market breadth was negative with traders still edgy over the rupee's weakness and the European debt crisis.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 15,715.91 points, was ruling at 15,636.51 points, 63.46 points or 0.4 percent down from its previous close at 15,699.97 points.

The Sensex had fallen 220 points to 15,479.97 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red at 4,685.7 points -- down 0.44 percent or 20.75 points.

The rupee stabilized a bit at 52.21 a dollar, as the central bank raised interest rates on deposits by overseas Indians to attract more dollars. Companies sold dollars after the Reserve Bank of India tweaked borrowing and deposit norms.

Broader markets were subdued, with the BSE 500 index down 0.24 percent. The BSE midcap index was trading 0.1 percent lower, while the BSE smallcap index was down 0.5 percent.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,123 stocks advancing and 1,502 on the decline. Another 112 were unchanged.

Among gainers on the Sensex were M&M, ONGC, L&T and Bajaj Auto, while losers included RIL, Hindalco, Hero MotoCorp and Infosys.

Consumer durables, metals and IT stocks were among the losers, while capital goods, auto and power scrips fell.

Asian markets were edgy on fears that Germany too could be succumbing to a debt crisis which has engulfed many countries of the Euro zone.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.8 percent down at 8,165.18 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 0.4 percent up at 17,935.1 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index ended flat at 2,397.55 points.