Mumbai: A day after it gained around 200 points, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip BSE Sensitive Index (Sensex) was trading marginally lower in the noon session on Thursday. It was down by 50 points or 0.18 percent.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading marginally lower. It was down by 13.20 points or 0.16 percent at 8,410.05 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,885.36 points, was trading at 27,786.72 points (at 12.30 p.m.) down 50.49 points or 0.18 percent from the previous day’s close at 27,837.21 points.

The Sensex had touched a high of 27,911.44 points and a low of 27,712.73 points in the intra-day trade so far.

According to Angel Broking, Indian markets opened on a flat-note tracking the SGX Nifty.

On the global front, the U.S. indices ended marginally lower, after the US Fed meeting minutes expectedly indicated that the rate hike is unlikely in June.

“European markets extended gaining streak for the third consecutive day (Wednesday), led by rally in telecommunication and banking shares. Indian markets edged higher (Wednesday), led by rally in the IT stocks due to decline in rupee vis-a-vis the dollar,” the broking firm said.

Healthy buying was observed in automobile, information technology (IT), capital goods, technology, entertainment and media (TECK) and consumer durables sectors.

However, banks, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare, oil and gas and metal stocks came under heavy selling presssure.

The S&P BSE automobile index augmented by 105.51 points, IT index gained 42.03 points, capital goods index was higher by 40.60 points, TECK index rose 20.02 points and consumer durables index was up by 14.71 points.

However, the S&P BSE bank index receded by 79.73 points, FMCG index was lower by 68.89 points, healthcare index fell by 59.07 points, oil and gas index lost by 55.89 points and metal index was down by 44.82 points.