New Delhi - Indian equities markets tanked with the key Sensex index plunging nearly 10 per cent shortly after opening on Friday as foreign funds sold blue-chip stocks due to the global financial crisis and declining Indian rupee.

The 30-share Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange which lost nearly 1,730 points in the past five sessions, plunged by 1,088.60 points, or 9.8 per cent, soon after opening.

It later pared its losses and was down 7.4 per cent at 10,496.16 points - its lowest level in more than two years - at noon (0630 GMT).

Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo ended Friday trading lower, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunging below the psychologically significant mark of 9,000 points for the first time in more than five years.

The key Nikkei index plunged 881.06 points, or 9.62 per cent, to close at 8,276.43.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also dropped 64.25 points, or 7.09 per cent, to 840.86.

For the week, Nikkei fell 24.33 per cent, and the Topix also declined almost 20 per cent.

Mumbai, Oct 10: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark Sensex on Friday tumbled by nearly 10 per cent to 10,239.76 in opening trade.

The 30-share index, which had nearly lost 1,730 points in the past five straight sessions, plunged by 1,088.60 points, or 9.8 percent, little away from hitting the lower level circuit of 10 per cent, fixed by authorities.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) index Nifty moved down by 314.70 points, or 9 per cent to 3,198.95 with all the heavy-weight stocks trading in negative zone.

Infosys Technologies fell by Rs 54.35 at Rs 1,200 despite better quarterly earnings.

Sydney - Australian stocks gave up 8.3 per cent Friday in response to Wall Street falling to a five-year low and big setbacks on Asia markets.

The ASX 200 dropped 360 points, or 8.3 per cent, to 3,960 after smashing through the psychologically important 4,000 barrier mid-session.

Resources stocks were down 8.3 per cent, financials down 7.4 per cent, industrials down 7.5 per cent and the four big high street banks were off 6-8 per cent.

Indian stock markets are still under huge pressure because of turmoil in worldwide markets. 

Sharp Decline in Indian currency and disappointing IIP numbers also dragged the Sensex down. Indian rupee fell to a six-year low against the dollar as weak stock markets impelled investors to retrieve their funds from the markets. 

After falling 1.68% on Wednesday to Rs 48.375, the partially convertible rupee stood at Rs 49.19 a dollar today.

Indian equities crashed during the early trading hours as credit crisis deteriorated, which sent the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty down by 9.5% and 9% to 10,239.76 and 3198.95 respectively.

Today, the 30-share index, BSE Sensex opened negatively at 10,632.27 after losing 696.09 points. In the previous day session, the Sensex closed with a loss of 366.88 points.

Asian stocks tumbled, forcing Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average down on worry that the deepening credit disaster will push the worldwide financial system into depression.