Mumbai, Oct 23 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 84 points down in afternoon trade Tuesday as consumer durables, auto and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks dipped.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,803.62 points, was ruling at 18,708.84 points, down 84.60 points or 0.45 percent up from its previous day's close at 18,793.44 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,812.93 points and a low of 18,700.91 in intra-day trade.

The BSE midcap index was down 5.97 points while the smallcap index was up 2.77 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE consumer durables index was down 92.53 points followed by auto index, down 89.66 points, FMCG index, down 57.43 points, and the Bank index, down 49.83 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also down by 26.50 points or 0.46 percent at 5,690.65 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.04 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 0.68 percent higher. However, Shanghai's Composite Index was down 0.86 points.