Mumbai, Mar 15 (IANS): Key Indian equity indices on Thursday provisionally closed in the negative territory -- with the Sensex dropping almost 200 points intra-day -- as heavy selling pressure in oil and gas, banking, metals, FMCG and energy stocks subdued investor sentiments.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 50.75 points or 0.49 per cent to provisionally close trade at 10,360.15 points (at 3.30 p.m.).

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 33,843.47 points, closed at 33,685.54 points -- down 150.20 points or 0.44 per cent from the previous session's close.

The Sensex touched a high of 33,866.28 points and a low of 33,637.28 during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was, however, bullish with 1,634 advances and 1,056 declines.

On Wednesday, the key Indian indices trimmed their losses to close trade on a flat note with marginal losses aided by healthy macroeconomic data, along with a sharp recovery in banking stocks.

The NSE Nifty50 fell by 15.95 points, or 0.15 per cent, to close at 10,410.90 points, while the Sensex closed at 33,835.74 points -- down 21.04 points, or 0.06 per cent.