Monday, July 24 2006 10:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Tracking global trends, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark, Sensex, plunged below 10,000 level in early trading on selling by foreign and domestic funds.

The 30-share sensitive index dropped by 173 points at 9,913 points in the first five minutes of trading. The accurate update of the Sensex was not available due to a technical snag in the exchange's computer network.

The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also fell sharply by 54.80 points at 2,890.20 points.

Stock brokers said weak global trends and approaching expiry of July contract in the Futures and Option segment triggered fresh selling by foreign funds.

The selling pressure was spilled over a wide front dragging all the index-related stocks on the Sensex and Nifty.