Mumbai, Oct. 16 -- The key equity benchmarks traded with minor losses in early trade amid weak global cues. Investors remained focused on September-quarter earnings, with the Nifty traded below the 22,950 mark.

Market participants will track global developments, foreign institutional investor (FII) flows, key US inflation data and further corporate earnings announcements for market direction.

IT, media and metal stocks advanced while oil & gas, realty and private bank counter declined.

At 09:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex declined 245.09 points or 0.33% to 74,070.58. The Nifty 50 index dropped 59.10 points or 0.27% to 22,934.65.

In the broader market, the Nifty Midcap 150 Index fell 0.49% and the Nifty Smallcap 250 In...