Mumbai, Sep 12 (IANS): A benchmark index for the Indian equities markets Monday pared some of its intra-day losses and closed 363 points lower, pulled down by negative global cues and a slowdown in domestic industrial output.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 16,668.25 points, closed at 16,503.85 points (provisional), down 363.12 points or 2.15 percent from its previous close at 16,866.97 points.

The Sensex had slipped more than 473 points to an intra-day low of 16,393.04 points.

Dampened by a sharp fall in capital goods production, India's factory output grew at a sluggish 3.3 percent in July compared to a year earlier, much slower than expectations and sharply below the 8.8 percent growth registered in the previous month.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too ended 2.31 percent down at 4,942.4 points.

Broader markets too ended in the red. The BSE midcap index closed 1.91 percent down, while the BSE small cap index ended 1.9 percent lower.