Mumbai, Jan. 7 -- The key equity benchmarks continued to trade with modest cuts in early-afternoon trade amid mixed global cues and renewed concerns over US tariffs and geopolitical tensions. The Nifty traded below the 26,100 level. Auto, realty and oil & gas shares declined, while IT and consumer durables shares advanced.

At 1:30 ST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 338.29 points or 0.40% to 84,725.05. The Nifty 50 index dropped 105.80 points or 0.40% to 26,072.75.

The broader market outperformed the frontline indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.09% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index shed 0.16%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,838 shares rose and 2,229 shares fell. A total of 172 shares were unchange...