A benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), on Friday was trading 217.43 points, or 0.84% down during the morning session.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 57.95 points, or 0.74% at 7,806.20 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,810.06 points, was trading at 25,669.19 points (at 9.20 a.m.) in the early session, down 217.43 points, or 0.84 percent from the previous day's close at 25,886.62 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,810.06 points and a low of 25,667.16 points in the trade so far.

okyo shares opened sharply lower on Friday as investors' sentiment was disappointed by weaker-than-expected stimulus measures the European Central Bank released overnight.

At 9.15 a.m. (local time) the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged 331.31 points, or 1.66 percent, from Thursday to 19,608.59, Xinhua reported.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 25.67 points, or 1.60 percent, to 1,577.27.