However a slight fall in Brent crude oil price aided in arrest of the sharp fall.
In addition heavy selling pressure in consumer durables capital goods and auto stocks led the fall. The barometer S&P BSE Sensex dropped by over 260 points and the NSE Nifty50 traded below the 10 300-mark.
Index-wise the Sensex opened at 34 412.36 points from its previous close of 34 376.99 points on last Friday. At 9.40 a.m. it traded at 34 116.70 points down by a little over 260 points or 0.76 per cent.
Similarly the Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded in the red.
The NSE Nifty50 traded at 10 250.10 points during the morning trade session down 66.35 points and 0.64 per cent.
--IANS