Mumbai, Apr 4 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 1.35 percent down Thursday afternoon owing to heavy selling pressure in banking, information technology (IT) and capital goods stocks.

Markets remained lacklustre, due to foreign cues such as US job growth data to be released Friday as well as perceived domestic political uncertainties following speculations about early general elections.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 18,731.38 points, was trading at 18,547.31 points in the late afternoon session, down 254.33 points or 1.35 percent from its previous day's close at 18,801.64 points.

The Sensex slumped to a low of 18,544.86 points in intra-day trade and touched a high of 18,733.62 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 1.61 percent or 91.25 points down at 5,581.65 points in the afternoon session.

The BSE bank index was down 245.93 points, followed by IT index, lower by 166.35 points; capital goods index, down 137.92 points; metal index down 117.92 points and consumer durables index, which fell by 116.13 points.