Mumbai, Dec 27 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities slipped into the red in choppy trade Tuesday afternoon as most of the investors turned wary about building positions ahead of the third-quarter earnings data.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 15,983.98 points, was ruling at 15,948.47 in the afternoon, down 0.14 percent or 22.28 points from its previous close at 15,970.75.

The market was largely range-bound. The Sensex crossed the 16,000-point mark in early trade and touched a high of 16,049.12 points and low of 15,928.92 in the intra-day.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also slipped into the red in the afternoon after ruling in the positive in the pre-noon trade. The Nifty was trading 0.25 percent down at 4,766.90 points.

Most of the sectoral indices were also in the red and broader markets were almost flat. The BSE midcap was down 0.11 percent and the smallcap index was flat.