Mumbai, Jun 21 (IANS): After a day of bloodbath, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 0.20 percent, or a marginal 36.70 points up, during the pre-noon session Friday.

Some positive buying trends were seen in the oil and gas, IT and auto index, while selling pressure was observed in the banking index (bankex) and metals.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,695.80 points, was trading at 18,755.99 points in the pre-noon session, up 36.70 points, or 0.20 percent, from its previous day's close at 18,719.29 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,777.93 points and a low of 18,615.14 points in the pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index went up by 113.94 points, the IT index inched up by 60.77 points and the auto index moved up by 48.50 points, while the bankex dipped by 58.35 points and the metals index dropped by 27.93 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat at 0.32 percent or 18.05 points up at 5,673.95 points.