Consequently, the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade deep in the red.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down 86.75 points or 1.10 percent, at 7,813.65 points.
The barometer 30-scrip BSE sensitive index (Sensex), which opened at 25,739.94 points, provisionally closed the day's trade at 25,489.57 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 300.65 points or 1.17 percent from the previous close at 25,790.22 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 25,743.69 points and a low of 25,400.27 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was heavily tilted in favour of the bears - with 1,499 declines and 1,048 advances.
Both the key indices had ended with substantial gains during the previous trade session on Thursday, as positive domestic cues, including parliamentary approval for a key economic legislation lifted prices.
The barometer index had gained 193.20 points or 0.75 percent, while the NSE Nifty had edged up by 51.55 points or 0.66 percent.