Mumbai, April 3 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading flat late afternoon Wednesday, owing to heavy selling pressure in automobile, capital goods and oil and gas stocks.

However, healthcare, power and bank stocks gained.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 19,034 points, was trading at 18,981.11 points in the late afternoon session, down 59.84 points or 0.31 percent from its previous day's close at 19,040.95 points.

The Sensex slumped to a low of 18,939.46 points in intra-day trade and touched a high of 19,035.20 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 0.34 percent or 19.50 points down at 5,728.60 points in the afternoon session.

The BSE automobile index was down 146.63 points, followed by capital goods index, lower by 55.17 points, and the oil and gas index, which fell by 34.67 points.

However, the health care index was up 50.46 points, power index was higher by 26.70 and the bank index increased by 8.49 points.