Mumbai, Dec 19 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 143.21 points or 0.69 percent down during the pre-noon trade Thursday.

Good buying was observed in IT, technology media and entertainment (TECK) and healthcare sectors, while selling pressure was seen in banking index (bankex), capital goods and oil and gas sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,959.80 points, was trading at 20,716.65 points in the pre-noon session, down 143.21 points or 0.69 percent from previous day's close at 20,859.86 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 21,017.45 points, and a low of 20,646.03 points during the trade so far.

The S&P BSE IT index surged 182.99 points, TECK index gained 71.57 points and healthcare index augmented by 104.05 points. However, bankex plunged 299.84 points, capital goods index plummeted 187 points and oil and gas index dropped 133.24 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading down at 47 points or 0.76 percent at 6,170.15 points.