Mumbai, Jan 5 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets closed in the red for the second consecutive day Thursday in choppy session due to selling pressure in oil and gas, realty and metal stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 15,893.07 points, closed at 15,857.08 points - down 0.16 percent or 25.56 points from its previous close at 15,882.64 points.

The market witnessed choppy trading and the benchmark Sensex was largely range-bound. The 30-scrip index touched a high of 15,980.17 points and low of 15,809.31 points in the intra-day.

The Sensex had declined 0.36 percent Wednesday after a two-day rally.

However, the 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed marginally in the positive. The Nifty ended the day 0.01 percent higher at 4,749.95 points.

The BSE midcap index also closed flat at 5,264.17 points while the smallcap index advanced 0.21 percent.

Most of the sectoral indices closed in the red. The BSE oil and gas index slumped 1.68 percent. The realty index fell 1.65 percent and the metal index declined 0.74 percent.