Mumbai, Jun 19 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 0.46 percent down during the pre-noon session Wednesday.

Selling pressure was observed in stocks like autos, oil and gas, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and IT; while stocks like metals and consumer durables moved up by some points.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,224.09 points, was trading at 19,135.15 points in the pre-noon session, flat at 88.13 points or 0.46 percent down from its previous day's close of 19,223.28 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,234.48 points and a low of 19,100.13 points in pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE auto index slipped 56.46 points, the oil and gas index dipped 54.80 points, the PSU index dropped by 40.52 points and the IT index slid by 31.67 points; while the metal index moved up by 84.69 points and consumer durables index increased by 51.97 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat at 0.21 percent or 12.15 points down at 5,801.45 points.