Mumbai, Jul 10 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 0.22 percent or 43.62 points down during the pre-noon session Wednesday.

Some positive buying was observed in consumer durables, healthcare, IT and banking index (bankex) sectors, while selling pressure was seen in auto, fast moving consumer goods, metal and oil and gas sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,482.66 points, was trading at 19,395.86 points in the pre-noon session, down 43.62 points or 0.22 percent from its previous day's close at 19,439.48 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,505.93 points and a low of 19,381.90 points in the pre-noon trade. The S&P BSE consumer durables index surged by 110.45 points, healthcare index increased by 65.29 points, IT index inched up by 29.73 points and bankex moved up by 38.26 points.

The auto index, however, dipped by 82.26 points, FMCG index slipped by 48.54 points, metal index dropped by 46.13 points and oil and gas index went down by 38.66 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat at 0.10 points down at 5,858.90 points.