The 30-share barometer, which had lost 170.45 points in yesterday’s volatile session, dipped below the 27,000-mark by falling 224.34 points or 0.82 per cent to 27001.59.

All the sectoral indices led by metal, IT and healthcare were trading in negative zone with losses up to 1.55 per cent.

Also, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty dipped below the 8,200-mark by losing 72.30 points or 0.88 per cent to 8167.45.

Brokers said squaring-up of positions by participants as today is the last trading session of April series expiry in the derivatives segment and a weak trend at other Asian bourses following overnight losses at the US markets after growth data fell well short of forecasts, dampened sentiments.

Besides, capital outflows by foreign investors on MAT worries and lower-than-expected Q4 earnings posted by some blue-chip companies too negatively impacted sentiment, they said.

Stocks of Jindal Steel & Power fell by more than 5.50 per cent after company was chargesheeted by the CBI in connection with Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation scam case.

In Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down by 0.77 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei fell by 1.90 per cent in early trade today.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.41 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.