The equity barometers were trading near the day's low in afternoon trade. The Nifty was hovering below 15,050 level. Rising COVID-19 case and negative global cues impacted domestic sentiment. PSU banks and auto shares corrected sharply. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, dropped 216.25 points or 0.42% at 51,108.44. The Nifty 50 index lost 74.30 points or 0.49% at 15,044.65. Selling was broad based. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index slipped 0.85%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index fell 0.11%. Sellers outnumbered buyers. On the BSE, 1,400 shares rose and 1,444 shares fell. A total of 161 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, 12 stocks advanced while 38 stocks declined. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 903.07 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 1,217.34 crore in the Indian equity market on 18 February 2021, provisional data showed.