Indian stock-index futures fell after benchmark gauges slid to the lowest level in more than two weeks yesterday.

SGX CNX Nifty Index futures for September delivery lost 0.3 percent to 8,034.5 at 10 a.m. in Singapore. The underlying CNX Nifty Index (NIFTY) fell 0.8 percent to 8,042 yesterday, the lowest close since Sept. 1. The S&P BSE Sensex (SENSEX) declined 0.9 percent. The Bank of New York Mellon India ADR Index of U.S.-traded shares slipped 1 percent.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped for a ninth day today, heading for the longest losing streak in 12 years, before U.S. Federal Reserve officials meet to review policy from today. Industrial production in the U.S. unexpectedly declined in August for the first time in seven months, data showed yesterday, damping speculation the timeline for interest-rate increases could be brought forward.

“Markets are awaiting signals from the Fed, if any, on the timing of interest-rate hikes,” Dipen Shah, head of private client group research at Kotak Securities Ltd., wrote in an e-mail yesterday.

India’s trade deficit widened in August from a year earlier, data showed yesterday, as imports of gold surged 176 percent after policy makers eased shipment curbs. The shortfall was $ 10.8 billion last month, compared with $ 10.7 billion a year earlier.

India is easing emergency measures taken when the current-account deficit widened to an all-time high, as faster growth boosts inflows. While the shortfall will widen this year through March 2015 after shrinking in the previous 12 months, it will stay sustainable, according to a Reserve Bank of India report last month.

International investors bought a net $ 41 million of Indian stocks on Sept. 12, taking this year’s inflow to $ 14.1 billion, the most among eight Asian markets tracked by Bloomberg

The Sensex has jumped 27 percent this year and is valued at 15.6 times projected 12-month earnings, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index’s multiple of 11.1. The Sensex is the best performer among the world’s 10 biggest markets.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rajhkumar K Shaaw in Mumbai at rshaaw@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael Patterson at mpatterson10@bloomberg.net Matthew Oakley, Phani Varahabhotla