New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 127 points lower in afternoon trade Wednesday. Realty, power and capital goods stocks were the worst performers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,699.19 points, was ruling at 18,666.88 points, 126.48 points or 0.67 percent down from its previous day's close at 18,793.36 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,740.63 points and a low of 18,645.16 points in intra-day trade. The BSE midcap index was lower by 65.76 points while the smallcap index was 74.36 points down.

Earlier in the day, the Sensex dropped nearly 150 points after credit rating agency Standard and Poor's said there is a significant chance of cutting India's credit rating in the future.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also ruling 0.72 percent down at 5,663.30 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE realty index was down 64.03 points, power index was down 36.71 points and capital goods index was down 143.14 point.

Major Sensex gainers were Hero MotoCorp, up 1.13 percent at Rs.1,824.40; Tata Steel, up 0.70 percent at Rs.414.65; RIL, up 0.34 percent at Rs.818.20; Bajaj Auto, up 0.27 percent at Rs.1,750; and Sun Pharma, up 0.17 percent at Rs.721.60.

The main losers were BHEL, down 2.36 percent at Rs.244.35; NTPC, down 1.82 percent at Rs.166.85; SBI, down 1.76 percent at Rs.2,240; Tata Power, down 1.66 percent at Rs.100.65; and Gail India, down 1.59 percent at Rs.375.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 1.98 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 0.10 percent down. Shanghai's composite index was up 0.22 percent.