Mumbai, Sep 23 - A key index of Indian equities markets, which had slipped sharply owing to heavy selling in blue chip stock in the last 40 minutes of trade Wednesday, managed to climb slightly to close 0.99 percent in the red.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened marginally higher at 16,905.5 points, shut shop at 16,719.5 points (provisional), down 166.93 points or 0.99 percent.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended marginally in the red at 4,969.95 points, down 1 percent.

Broader market indices also ended in the negative terrain, with the BSE midcap index closing 1.23 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index down 1.37 percent.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,001 stocks advancing, 1,785 declining and 79 remaining unchanged.

There were only five gainers on the Sensex: HDFC Bank, up 1.45 percent at Rs.1,568.95; Sterlite, up 1.09 percent at Rs.768.35; Sun Pharma, up 0.58 percent at Rs.1,211.70; ONGC, up 0.5 percent at Rs.1,161.25; and Reliance Industries, up 0.24 percent at Rs.2,101.40.

Among the top losers were Jaiprakash Associates, down 6.