Mumbai, June 27 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat - up around one percent - during the afternoon trade session Thursday, a day after it closed nearly half a percent down following a record depreciation of the rupee.

The partially convertible rupee slumped to 60.63 against the dollar at the inter-bank foreign exchange market in Mumbai in the late afternoon session, surpassing its previous record low of 59.98 of June 20.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,716.11 points, was trading at 18,711.38 points in the 12.30 p.m. trade session, up 159.26 points or 0.86 percent from its previous day's close at 18,552.12 points.

Sensex touched a high of 18,775.47 points and a low of 18,688.28 points in the afternoon trade.

There was healthy buying in oil and gas, healthcare, bank, IT and technology, entertainment and media stocks.

However, there was selling pressure in consumer durables, capital goods and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) scrips.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index rose by 194.74 points, healthcare goods index went up by 167.37 points, bank index gained 119.30 points, IT index was up 106.56 points and the TECk index grew by 51.12 points.

Consumer durables index went down by 191.21 points. The auto index dipped by 40.89 points and the FMCG index slid by 21.72 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the positive territory. It gained 58.55 points or 1.05 percent at 5,647.25 points.