Mumbai, Sept. 22 -- The frontline indices traded with modest cuts in the mid-morning trade as investor sentiment took a hit following the Trump administration's controversial H-1B visa policy, which imposes a one-time $100,000 fee on new applicants. The move, seen as a blow to India's tech sector.

The Nifty traded below 25,300 level. Pharma shares declined after advancing in the past two consecutive trading sessions.

At 11:27 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 223.43 points or 0.30% to 82,405.80. The Nifty 50 index lost 56 points or 0.22% to 25,270.95.

In the broader market, The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.35% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index shed 0.22%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,978 shares ros...