Frontline as well as broader Indices were off their opening lows due to short covering.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 348.96 points or 1.00 percent at 34,717.79 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 106.70 points or 0.99 percent to 10,653.90.

About five shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

All sectoral indices were in the red but were off day’s lows.

Bharti Airtel was the top gainer among Nifty 50 stocks, rising 3.5 percent as Singtel will invest Rs 2,649 crore in promoter company, Bharti Telecom via preferential issue.