Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was Thursday trading 16 points lower, following selling pressure in bank and information technology (IT) stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,514.88 points, was ruling at 19,470.61 points around 1.00 p.m., down 16.19 points or 0.08 percent from its previous close at 19,486.80 points.

The index touched a high of 19,561.87 points and low of 19,458.08 points intra-day. The BSE midcap index was down 2.72 points. However, the smallcap index was higher by 28.50 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was down 9.75 points or 0.16 percent at 5,921.15 points.

The BSE Bank index was down 43.28 points, while the IT index was lower by 42.87 points, followed by the media, entertainment and communication (TECk) index, was down 41.99 points and oil and gas index was down by 14.54 points.

However, the auto index was up by 98.64 points, consumer durables index was higher by 78.15 points and capital goods index increased by 58.36 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.19 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was higher by 0.09 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index was up 1.60 percent.