Mumbai, Dec. 8 -- The domestic equity indices traded with significant losses in the mid- afternoon trade as investors stepped into a week packed with IPO activity. The Nifty traded below the 25,950 mark. Metal share declined after advancing for previous two consecutive trading session.

At 14:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, dropped 746.68 points or 0.87% to 85,965.69. The Nifty 50 index tanked 267.15 points or 1.02% to 25,919.30.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index tanked 2.02% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index fell 2.31%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 819 shares rose and 3,418 shares fell. A total of 203 shares were unchanged.

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