Mumbai, March 11 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday made a weak start and was ruling 36 points lower, about 28 minutes after the opening bell.

At 9.28 a.m. the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,087.63 points, was ruling at 17,062.37 points, 35.96 points or 0.21 percent lower than its previous close at 17,098.33 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,106.65 points against the previous close at 5,116.25 points, a loss of 0.19 percent.

Broader markets were flat at this time of the day.