The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell over 155 points to trade below the 18,000 level in opening trade on Thursday, on sustained selling by funds in line with a weak global trend.
The 30-share index, which had lost about 149 points in the previous session, fell by another 155.41 points or 0.86 per cent to 17,914.78 points, with all the sectoral indices led by metal, IT and realty trading in negative zone with losses up to 1.36 per cent.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty breached a psychological 5,400 level to trade lower by 48.15 points to 5,372.45 points.
Traders said the selling pressure was sparked by a plunge in world markets on investor worries over fears of a global economic slowdown, led by the United States and China.
Besides, weak opening in Asian stock markets, which were down up to 2.02 per cent in the morning trade on Thursday, also dampened the sentiments in Mumbai, they added.
Meanwhile, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 2.49 per cent lower in the previous session.
