Mumbai, Aug 26 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended Tuesday flat - with marginal gains of about 5.79 points or 0.02 percent as major sectors like capital goods, oil and gas and bank stocks plunged.

Healthy buying was observed in healthcare, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and consumer durables and information technology (IT) stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,349.87 points, was trading at 26,442.81 points (provisional), up 5.79 points or 0.02 percent from the previous day's close at 26,437.02 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,481.97 points and a low of 26,314.89 points in the intra-trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods index was down 124.54 points, oil and gas index was 77.69 points, bank index was lower by 42.62 points, power index declined by 27.47 points and realty index slipped by 0.82 points.

However, the BSE healthcare index gained 149.10 points, metal index closed higher by 92.42 points, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index moved up by 65.49 points, information technology (IT) index rose 23.72 points and automobile index increased by 4.69 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed the day's trade flat. It closed the trade down 1.55 points or 0.02 percent down at 7,904.75 points.