New Delhi, May 18 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading over 161 points low from its previous close around 12.30 p.m. Friday as automobile, capital goods and metal stocks came under intense selling pressure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was ruling at 15,909.26 points, down by 1 percent or 161.22 points from its previous close of 16,070.48 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 15,920.90 points and a low of 15,809.71 points in the intra-day trade. The sensex midcap was down 57.61 points and smallcap was down by 58.28 points.

The BSE auto index was down 2.90 percent or 272.44 points, the capital goods index was down 1.75 percent or 152.97 points and the metal index was down 1.53 percent or 153.53 points.

Tata Motors was down 4.68 percent at Rs.258.40; Maruti Suzuki was down 3.56 percent at Rs.1162.10; Bajaj Auto was down 3.07 percent at Rs.1526; BHEL was down 2.46 percent at Rs.200.65 and Tata Steel was also down 2.37 percent at Rs.396.25.

Other major Sensex losers included Sterlite, down 2.28 percent at Rs.96.35; Hero MotoCorp, down 2.22 percent at Rs.1,848.05; Infosys, down 2 percent at Rs.2,324; Hindalco, down 1.65 percent at Rs.107; Larsen and Toubro, down 1.53 percent at Rs.1,145 and Jindal Steel, down 1.49 percent at Rs.455.10.

The only three Sensex gainers were SBI, up by 1.06 percent at Rs.1,867.60; Hindustan Unilever, up 0.92 percent at Rs.432.45 and NTPC, up 0.81 percent at Rs.143.25.