The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange had lost 280 points, or 1.4 percent, to 19,447 in afternoon trade, a short while ago, as selling pressure intensified. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had declined 142 points, or 0.7 percent, to 19,585, as funds and retail investors reduced positions ahead of the domestic current account deficit data, and as regional markets lost ground. Stock markets in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea had lost between 0.6 percent and 2 percent, today, amid concerns over a US budgetary impasse.