Mumbai, Oct 26 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 159 points down in late afternoon trade Friday, dragged down by consumer durable, health care and banks stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,715.35 points, was ruling at 18,599.05 points, 159.58 points or 0.85 percent down from its previous day's close at 18,758.63 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,729.53 points and a low of 18,558.05 in intra-day trade.

The BSE midcap index was down by 56.97 points while the smallcap index was down 69.52 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE consumer durable index was lower by 228.79 points followed by bank index, down 127.87 points, oil and gas index, down 107.99 and health care index, down 103.02 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was lower by 46.45 points or 0.81 percent at 5,658.85 points.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 1.35 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 1.21 percent lower. Shanghai's Composite Index was down 1.68 points.