Mumbai, Oct. 8 -- The key equity benchmarks traded with major losses in mid-morning trade, weighed down by weak global cues, sustained foreign selling and elevated crude oil prices. The Nifty traded below the 22,400 level. Oil & gas shares extended losses for the second consecutive trading session.

At 11:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, tanked 712.02 points or 0.98% to 71,926.68. The Nifty 50 index lost 241.50 points or 1.07% to 22,361.55.

In the broader market, the BSE 150 MidCap Index declined 1.58% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index fell 1.80%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 1,067 shares rose and 2,915 shares fell. A total of 243 shares were unchanged.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Oil & Gas index fell 1.35% to 10...