New Delhi, Jun 28 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 19 points down Thursday. Automobile, oil and gas and banking stocks were among the underperformers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,985.58 points, was trading at 16,948.36 points around 2.45 p.m., down 0.11 percent or 19.40 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.08 percent lower at 5,137.95 points.

The BSE automobile index was down 86.46 points, the oil and gas index was down 53.45 points and the banking index down 55.98 points.

Major Sensex losers were Gail India, down 3.22 percent at Rs.343; Tata Motors, down 1.95 percent at Rs.234.40; Hindalco Inds, down 1.24 percent at Rs.115.30; SBI, down 1.07 percent at Rs.2,090.75; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 1.03 percent at Rs.685.05.

Major Sensex gainers were Tata Steel, up 1.44 percent at Rs.426.75; ITC, up 1.33 percent at Rs.251.10; BHEL, up 0.95 percent at Rs.222.55; Coal India , up 0.89 percent at Rs.346.05 and Tata Power, up 0.82 percent at Rs.98.45.