Mumbai, Dec 21 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading lower by 137 points or more than half a percent in the Friday afternoon session after profit booking led to selling pressure in auto, metals and bank stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,394.55 points, was ruling at 19,316.23 points around 1.20 p.m., down by 137.69 points or 0.71 percent from its previous close at 19,453.92 points.

The BSE Sensex touched a high of 19,394.55 points and low of 19,283.93 points intra-day. The BSE midcap index was down 68.30 points, while the smallcap index was lower by 64.43 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was down 40.70 points or 0.69 percent at 5,875.70 points.

The BSE auto index was down 128.39 points. The metals index was trading lower by 112.90 points, bank goods index down 111.84 points, oil and gas index down 96.75 points followed by capital goods index, down 87.77 points.

However, the information technology (IT) index increased by 7.51 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.99 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was lower by 0.75 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.69 percent.