Indian equities markets plummeted sharply Friday, with heavy selling in key sector scrips, mirroring international market trends.

The markets opened in the red following international cues and failed to really pick up anytime during the day.

While all sectoral indices closed with losses, important sectors like oil and gas, realty, banking, capital goods and power took a drubbing.

The 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened at 17,020.79 points and notched a high of 17,125.95 before closing at 16,737.07. At the end of the day, it lost 343.58 points or 2.01 percent compared to its closing figure Thursday.

The S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which opened at 5,070.85 points, closed at 4,982.60 after touching the day's high at 5,087.65 points.

It registered a loss of 99.10 points or 1.95 percent from its previous close.

The BSE Midcap index, which closed at 6,992.66 points, went down 160.77 points or 2.25 percent.

Similarly, the BSE Smallcap index, which closed at 8,505.64 points, went down 183.40 points or 2.11 percent.

On BSE, the market breadth was negative marked by low trading volumes. A total of 704 shares advanced, 2,019 declined and 61 remained unchanged.

Other major Asian markets also closed in the red Friday.

The top gainers of the day here included Bharti Airtel at Rs. 842.20, up 1.76 percent; ITC at Rs. 218.30, up 1.51 percent; Wipro at Rs. 501.20, up 0.81 percent; and Satyam at Rs. 473.40, up 0.49 percent.

The top losers included Jaiprakash Associates at Rs.251.30, down 6.60 percent; Reliance at Rs.2,527.65, down 5.19 percent; Reliance Infra at Rs.1,332.05, down 4.45 percent and ACC at Rs.712.00, down 4.20 percent.