Mumbai, Jan. 12 -- The domestic equity indices traded with modest losses in early trade. The Nifty traded below the 25,600 level. Barring the Nifty Metal index, all other sectoral indices on the NSE traded in the red, with the Media, Realty and Healthcare indices gaining the most.

At 09:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, dropped 434.67 points or 0.52% to 83,141.57. The Nifty 50 index fell 130.95 points or 0.50% to 25,552.35.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index tumbled 1.38% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index plunged 1.96%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 812 shares rose and 2,456 shares fell. A total of 207 shares were unchanged.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the...