Mumbai, Aug 17 - Indian equities markets were under selling pressure just before noon Monday, with a key index slipping further into the red to rule 2.24 percent below its last closing figure. Indian traders also took cues from other Asian bourses, which were in the negative terrain.

At 11.55 a.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 15,284.23 points, was at 15,066.89 points -- 344.74 points or 2.24 percent lower than Friday's close.

At around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, was trading in the negative terrain at 4,472.75 points, down 2.34 percent.

Broader market indices were, also losing, with the BSE midcap index trading 1.7 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index moving down 0.72 percent.

All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the red, with those for realty, metal, auto and banking stocks losing the most.