Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) Indian equities were trading weak mid-afternoon Tuesday, with a key index fluctuating in a narrow range after dropping some 200 points from the day's high.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the 30-scrip Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened the day at 17,230.86 points against Monday's close at 17,180.18 points, and was ruling at 17,092.78 points around 1.31 p.m., down 0.51 percent or 87.4 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,075.9 points against the previous close at 5,103.55 points, reflecting a loss of 0.54 percent.

Broader market indices were, however, holding up with the BSE midcap index up 0.11 percent and the BSE small cap index ruling 0.41 percent higher.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,278 stocks advancing, 1,308 scrips declining and 97 remaining unchanged.

Other major Asian markets were dull.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, closed 1.01 percent or 96.1 points down at 9,401.58 points.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was ruling at 22,423.19 points, 1.53 percent or 348.20 points lower.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was ruling at 1,606.42 points, down 0.78 percent.

In China, the Shanghai composite index was ruling 3.45 percent in the red at 3,223.53 points.