Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets tanked 493.78 points or 2.66 percent during pre-noon trade Tuesday.

Almost all the sectors were trading in the red. It was led by banking index (bankex), capital goods, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), public sector undertakings (PSU), metal, auto, consumer durables, healthcare and oil and gas. Some positive movement was only seen in the IT sector.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18460.72 points, was trading at 18,064.35 points in the pre-noon session, down 493.78 points or 2.66 percent from the previous day's close at 18,558.13 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,460.72 points and a low of 18034.04 points during trade so far.

The S&P BSE bankex plunged 462.75 points, capital goods index tanked 262.95 points, FMCG index dropped by 219.12 points, PSU index slipped 159.96 points, metal index dipped 236.58 points, auto index nosedived by 250.67 points, consumer durables index plummeted 119.99 points, healthcare index slid 162.17 points and oil and gas index went down by 145.90 points.

However, the IT index went up by 55.57 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading down by 143.35 points or 2.62 percent at 5,333.15 points.