Mumbai: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets slipped further into the red around Monday noon as selling intensified in capital goods, banking and metal stocks. Negative global cues too added to the downward pressure. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 16,865.93 points, was ruling at 16,756.54 points, down 177.29 points or 1.05 percent from its previous close at 16,933.83 points. The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red at 5,038.8 points, down 0.89 percent. Broader markets were dull. The BSE midcap index was trading 0.19 percent lower, while the BSE smallcap index was flat. The market breadth was mixed with 1,207 stocks advancing, compared to 1,290 on the decline and 110 remaining unchanged. Sensex gainers at this time included Wipro, Bharti Airtel, Tata Power, Maruti Suzuki and Hindustan Unilever, while the losers included Sterlite Industries, L&T, ICICI Bank, and Sun Pharma. Asian markets were again hit by worries of a Greek debt default after a meeting Saturday between European finance ministers did not produce any concrete results or announcements. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was trading 2.55 percent lower at 18,958.95 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed 1.66 percent lower at 2,441.16 points. Japanese markets were closed Monday on account of a holiday. European bourses too were ruling lower.