Mumbai, Dec 2 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities was Friday morning ruling lacklustre as traders took a breather after a rally in the previous session. Asian markets were ruling with a negative bias.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,493.98 points, was ruling at 16,500.12 points, 16.67 points or 0.1 percent up from its previous close at 16,123.46 points.

It had closed Thursday with a 360 point gain.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was ruling dull at 4,947.15 points, up 0.21 percent or 11.35 points from its previous close.

Broader markets too were quiet with the BSE 500 index nudging up 0.28 percent. The BSE midcap index was ruling 0.36 percent up while the BSE smallcap index moved up 0.37 percent.

Banking stocks still saw healthy buying, followed by IT scrips. Selling was seen in oil and gas and to some extent consumer durables.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,215 stocks advancing and 885 on the decline. Another 81 were unchanged.

Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were: Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, ICICI Bank and Hindustan Unilever. Losers included: RIL, Bharti Airtel, ONGC and Bajaj Auto.

Asian markets too were trading with a negative bias Friday as traders booked profits after recent gains. The markets were also eyeing the US jobs data which will be available later in the day.

The Japanese Nikkei was ruling 0.24 percent up at 8,617.68 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was ruling 0.49 percent down at 18,909.07 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index was trading 1.44 percent lower at 2,352.52 points.