Mumbai, Oct 11 (IANS): Breaking a three-day gaining streak, key Indian equity indices provisionally closed in the red on Wednesday with heavy selling pressure witnessed in banking, metal and automobile stocks.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped below the psychologically important 10,000-mark, which was reclaimed on Tuesday, to provisionally close at 9,984.80 points -- down 32.15 points, or 0.32 per cent (at 3.30 p.m.).

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened higher at 31,975.59 points, closed at 31,833.99 points -- down 90.42 points, or 0.28 per cent, from its previous close.

It touched a high of 32,098.46 points and a low of 31,769.40 points during intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish -- 1,808 declines and 937 advances.

On Tuesday, the benchmark indices closed in the green on the back of broadly positive global cues and healthy buying in capital goods, banking and healthcare stocks.

The Nifty50 closed at 10,016.95 points -- up 28.20 points or 0.28 per cent, while the Sensex closed higher by 77.52 points, or 0.24 per cent, at 31,924.41 points.