Mumbai, Oct. 23 -- Small-cap stocks witnessed a sharp and broad-based sell-off on Friday, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 index plunging nearly 3 per cent, extending its losing streak to the seventh consecutive trading session amid heavy selling pressure across financial services, technology, industrials and renewable energy sectors.

The Nifty Smallcap 100 index declined 536.45 points, or 2.94 per cent, to 17,739.45, compared to its previous close of 18,275.90, according to National Stock Exchange (NSE) data.

Market breadth reflected widespread weakness, with 91 of the index's 100 constituents ending in negative territory, while only nine stocks registered gains.

The index opened at 18,221.65 and slipped to an intraday low of 17,571.60, hi...