Mumbai, Mar 1 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian markets was ruling in the negative Thursday amid selling in realty and capital goods scrips. The markets have been caught in a volatile trading pattern this week.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,714.62 points, was ruling at 17,573.73 points, 178.95 points or 1.01 percent down from its previous close at 17,752.68 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading lower at 5,321.95 points, down 63.25 points or 1.17 percent from its previous close.

Broader markets were also in the red, with the BSE 500 index trading 0.71 percent lower. The BSE midcap and small cap indices were trading flat.

Among the sectoral indices on the BSE, realty, capital goods and banking stocks were the biggest losers. Healthcare scrips rose.

Prominent gainers on the Sensex included Maruti Suzuki, Coal India, Sun Pharma and Hero MotoCorp, while among the losers were DLF, BHEL, ICICI Bank and Wipro.

The market breadth was negative with 1,098 stocks advancing, 1,335 on the decline and 110 unchanged.

Asian markets were mixed with investors cautious after US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke told a congressional hearing that flat incomes and still-high unemployment would likely limit growth this year to 2.25 percent in the world's largest economy.

The Japanese Nikkei moved down 0.16 percent to end at 9,707.37 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was ruling 1.06 percent lower at 21,450.31 points.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.28 percent higher at 2,435.22 points.