Mumbai, Mar 26 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading flat in the afternoon trade Tuesday as capital goods, oil and gas and realty stocks plummetted.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 18,645.09 points, was trading at 18,679.91 points in the afternoon session, down 0.01 percent or 1.51 points from its previous day close at 18,681.42 points.

The Sensex slumped to a low of 18,612.37 points in the intra-day and touched a high of 18,730.07 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 0.03 percent or 1.50 points up at 5,635.35 points in the afternoon session.

The BSE capital goods index was down 133.47 points, followed by oil and gas index which was lower by 125.94 points, and the realty index which slumped by 45.24 points.

However, the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index was up 66.43 points, consumer durables index was higher by 35.53 points and the information technology (IT) index was up 7.83 points.