Mumbai, Oct 31 (IANS): Indian equities markets were trading volatile Monday afternoon with a benchmark index ruling 73 points lower than its previous close. Metals, oil and gas, and auto stocks saw most of the selling.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,806.21 points, was ruling at 17,731.17 points, down 73.63 points or 0.41 percent from its previous close at 17,804.8 points.

It had risen to an intra-day high of 17,813.11 points and fell to a low of 17,686.27 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading lower, 30.5 points or 0.56 percent down, at 5,330.5 points.

Broader markets were lacklustre with the BSE 500 index down 0.21 percent. The BSE midcap index was up 0.31 percent, while the BSE small cap index was ruling 0.21 percent higher.

Among major Sensex gainers at this time were: Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank, NTPC and Tata Steel, while losers included Tata Motors, Hindalco, Sterlite and ONGC.

At Asian markets, stocks fell Monday as traders booked profits while they waited for further details on the Euro zone rescue proposal.

The Japanese Nikkei Thursday closed 0.69 percent lower at 8,988.39 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.77 percent down at 19,864.87 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index fell 0.21 percent to close at 2,468.25 points.

European markets too opened lower.

Britain's FTSE was trading 0.92 percent down at 5,649.79 points, while the French CAC 40 was ruling 1.41 percent lower at 3,301.44 points.

The German DAX was also trading 1.12 percent down at 6,275.23 points.