Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading flat in the afternoon trade Thursday after consumer durables, healthcare and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks fell.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,728.02 points was at 19,658.09 points around 12.00 p.m. -- marginally down 8.50 points or 0.04 percent from its previous close at 19,666.59 points.

The BSE Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,783.75 points and a low of 19,652.21 points.

The BSE midcap index was down 18.35 points, while the smallcap index was lower by 18.33 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat -- down 1.70 points or 0.03 percent at 5,969.80.

In the Sensex sectoral indices, consumer durables index was down 92.65 points, followed by healthcare index, which was lower by 29.69 points and FMCG index which fell by 15.89 points.

In terms of gainers, automobile index was up 101.28 points, while the public sector enterprises (PSU) index was up 39.04 points and oil and gas index was up 35.26 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.70 points, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was higher by 0.66 percent and China's Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.22 percent.