The BSE benchmark Sensex nosedived almost 180 points in the afternoon deals owing to heavy selling in realty, auto, healthcare and consumer durables stocks.

Disappointing third quarter earnings posted by Tata Motors and Sun Pharma yesterday mainly dampened the trading sentiment.

At 12.20 p.m., the 30-share BSE index Sensex was down 180.21 points or 0.64 per cent at 28,159.10 and the 50-share NSE index Nifty was down 58.6 points or 0.67 per cent at 8,733.70.

Among BSE sectoral indices, realty index fell the most by 3.16 per cent, followed by auto 2.14 per cent, healthcare 1.48 per cent and consumer durables 1.26 per cent.

Major Sensex losers were Tata Motors (-8.38%), Sun Pharma (-3.2%), Tata Steel (-2.59%), ICICI Bank (-1.4%) and Hero MotoCorp (-1.37%), while the major gainers were ITC (+0.63%), M&M (+0.61%), HDFC Bank (+0.49%), Reliance (+0.44%) and Bharti Airtel (+0.43%),

Early trade

The 30-share Sensex fell further by 69.39 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 28,269.92 with auto, realty, healthcare and consumer durables stocks leading the fall.

The gauge had lost 12.31 points in the previous session.

The NSE Nifty fell by 17.10 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 8,775.20.