Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS): Despite a strong rebound in the domestic currency and continued decline in crude oil prices, the key equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty50 -- traded on a negative note during the afternoon session of the trade on Friday.

The rupee bounced back 30 paise to Rs 72.71 a US dollar from its previous close of 73. The benchmark Brent Crude also slipped below the $71 a barrel mark. Consequently, export-oriented stock S&P BSE IT fell by 1.37 per cent. Metal, Realty and energy also came under heavy selling pressure.

However, the index pivotals -- finance and banking -- stocks held the positive territory. The market breath was positive with 1,171 advances and 1,138 declines even though the equity indices traded with a negative bias.

"This is owing to the lower level buying in quality small and mid-cap stocks by investors," Astha Jain, Senior Analyst, Hem Securities, told IANS. At 1.58 p.m., the S&P BSE Sensex traded 101.14 points down at 35,136.54. It had opened at 35,258.13 from its previous close of 35,237.68. It touched an intra-day high of 35,287.29 and a low of 35,011.23. The NSE Nifty50 traded at 10,574.40, down 24 points or 0.23 per cent. It opened at 10,614.70 from its previous close of 10,598.40.