Mumbai, Dec 29 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday slumped 184 points due to last hour selling pressure in capital goods and oil and gas stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the day at almost a year-low of 15,543.93 points, down 1.17 percent or 183.92 points from its previous close at 15,727.85 points.

The market closed in the red for the third straight day. The benchmark Sensex had lost 243 points in the previous two sessions.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the red for the third consecutive day. The Nifty closed 1.27 percent down at 4,646.25 points.

The broader markets as well as most sectoral indices also closed in the red. The BSE midcap index fell 0.35 percent and the smallcap index closed 0.74 percent down.

There was heavy selling pressure in capital goods and oil and gas stocks. The BSE oil and gas index slumped 2.62 percent and the capital goods index fell 2.39 percent.