Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) A benchmark index for the Indian equities markets closed in the red in a largely range-bound session Friday as slump in oil and gas, realty and metal stocks offset rise in auto, IT and FMCG scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened marginally down at 18,194.15 points, closed at 18,197.20 points, down 0.07 percent or 12.32 points from its previous close at 18,209.52 points.

The benchmark Sensex was range bound throughout the day. The index touched a high of 18,334.27 points and a low of 18,131.86 points in the intra-day.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also witnessed sluggish trading. The index closed 0.10 percent down at Rs.5,482 points.

ICICI Bank jumped 1.99 percent at Rs.1,037.75 after the bank reported 30 percent rise in its quarterly profit.

Maruti Suzuki, up 1.81 percent at Rs.1,207.90; Bharti Airtel, up 1.43 percent at Rs.437; Bajaj Auto, up 1.27 percent at Rs.1,461.50; and ITC, up 1.09 percent at Rs.208.30 were among the other major gainers on the Sensex.

Majors Sensex losers were: Jindal Steel, down 4.65 percent at Rs.584.95; Jaiprakash Asso, down 3.58 percent at Rs.67.35; and ONGC, down 2.44 percent at Rs.269.90.