Mumbai, Jun 18 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 0.18 percent down during the pre-noon session Tuesday.

Selling pressure was observed in stocks like consumer durables, autos and the banking index (bankex); while oil and gas, technology, media and entertainment (TECK) and IT stocks crawled up by slightly.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,329.17 points, was trading at 19,291.92 points in the pre-noon session, flat at 33.95 points or 0.18 percent down from its previous day's close at 19,325.87 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,334.07 points and a low of 19,227.11 points in pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE bankex dipped 69.35 points, consumer durables slipped by 44.03 points and the auto index slid by 30.62 points; while the oil and gas index moved up by 32.60 points, TECK index increased by 20.35 points and IT index inched up by 20.02 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat at 0.29 percent or 16.70 points down at 5,833.35 points.