The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Wednesday dipped below the 9,000 level in opening trade by losing 213.99 points on sustained selling by funds influenced by weakening global trends.

The 30-share index Sensex, which had lost 229.02 points in the previous day's trading, fell further by 213.99 points to 8,886.56 points in the first five minutes of trading as heavyweights like Infosys Technologies and Reliance Industries recorded heavy losses.