Mumbai, March 3 -- The domestic equity benchmarks traded with modest losses in early-afternoon trade, weighed down by several factors contributing to the market downturn, including foreign investor selling, global economic concerns, and a correction in small-cap and mid-cap stocks. The Nifty traded below the 22,100 level. Metal shares extended losses for the second consecutive trading session.

At 12:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 211.21 points, or 0.29%, to 73,002.39. The Nifty 50 index fell 55.65 points, or 0.25%, to 22,069.05.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 1.18% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index tanked 2.41%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE...