Mumbai, Nov 6 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading flat in late afternoon session Tuesday as buying in realty, banking, healthcare and power stocks offset losses in auto, capital goods and energy scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the negative at 18,739.97 points, was trading at 18,756.59 points in the late afternoon session, down 0.03 percent or 6.28 points from its previous day close at 18,762.87 points.

The benchmark Sensex moved in a narrow range. It touched a high of 18,813.03 points and a low of 18,726.94 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also witnessing lacklustre trading. The Nifty was ruling 0.05 percent higher at 5,707.20 points.

There was some buying support in realty, power, healthcare and banking stocks. The realty index of the BSE climbed 1.09 percent at 1830.33 points. The healthcare index was ruling 0.87 percent higher while the power index was up 0.16 percent. The banking index was trading 0.14 percent higher.

Auto index fell 0.87 percent. Capital goods index was down 0.45 percent, and oil and gas index was down 0.36 percent.

Among the main gainers were Cipla, up 4.44 percent at Rs.397.35; HDFC, up 1.59 percent at Rs.781.10; Jindal Steel, up 1.47 percent at Rs.386.50; and SBI, up 1 percent at Rs.2,164.50 were among the major Sensex gainers.

The major Sensex losers were Maruti Suzuki, down 1.47 percent at Rs.1,458; Hindalco Inds, down 1.35 percent at Rs.113.15; Bajaj Auto, down 1 percent at Rs.1,841.70; and Tata Motors, down 0.98 percent at Rs.267.05.