Mumbai, Dec 9 (IANS): A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets closed Tuesday's trade 322 points or 1.15 percent down as capital goods stocks plunged.

All sector-based indices of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) suffered due to heavy selling. Major sectors which declined included metal, bank, automobile, consumer durables and oil and gas.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,134.22 points, closed at 27,797.01 points, down 322.39 points or 1.15 percent from the previous day's close at 28,119.40 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,157.53 points and a low of 27,763.82 points in the intra-trade.

The S&P capital goods index lost 369.41 points; while metal index tanked by 300.12 points, bank index fell by 270.90 points, automobile index was lower by 240.94, consumer durables index went down by 207.04 points and oil and gas index slipped by 160.53 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended in the red. It was down by 97.55 points or 1.16 percent at 8,340.70 points.