Mumbai, May 23 (IANS): A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was trading 1.27 percent down in pre-afternoon trade Thursday.

Trading in all the major sectors was down. The most pronounced of the lot were bankex, capital goods, auto, oil and public sector units' stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened down at 19,971.37 points, was trading at 19,806.74 points in the afternoon session, down 255.50 points or 1.27 percent from its previous day close at 20,062.24 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,027.56 points and a low of 19,760.08 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has also shown downward movement and was trading at 0.72 percent or 44.10 points down at 6,050.40 points.

The BSE Bankex index was down 301.08 points, capital goods index slid to 300.77 points, while the auto index dipped 227.10 points, oil index plunged 111.25 points and PSU index plunged 111.43 points.