Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed 134 points down in line with weak global bourses. Metal, capital goods and banking stocks were the worst performers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,359.96 points, closed at 17,305.02 points (provisional), 0.78 percent or 135.85 points down from its previous day's close at 17,440.87 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,411.67 points and a low of 17,250.80 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.97 points down at 5,223.05 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE metal index was down 281.24 points, capital goods index was down 250.55 points and the banking index was down 203.84 points.

The main Sensex losers were Jindal Steel, down 5.20 percent at Rs.334.50; BHEL, down 5.09 percent at Rs.207.75; Tata Steel, down 3.68 percent at Rs.349.75; ICICI Bank, down 3.56 percent at Rs.879.55; and Sterlite Inds, down 3.48 percent at Rs.92.90.

The major gainers were Bharti Airtel, up 3.04 percent at Rs.257.25; Hindustan Unilever, up 1.63 percent at Rs.529.80; TCS, up 1.46 percent at Rs.1,361.85; and ONGC, up 1.12 percent at Rs.274.50.