Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets hit a record high of 26,952.88 points Tuesday, surpassing its previous peak of 26,900.30 points scaled Sep 1.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,316.43 points (11.00 a.m.), was trading at 27,226.94 points, down 92.91 points or 0.34 percent from the previous day's close at 27,319.85 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,328.27 points and a low of 27,214.06 points in the pre-afternoon trade session.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which is range bound around 8,000-mark was also trading in the red. It was down 28.40 points or 0.35 percent at 8,145.50 points.

Metal, information technology and bank stocks sustained heavy selling pressure, while automobile, healthcare and consumer durables stocks rose.

The S&P BSE metal index was down 86.97 points, IT slipped by 80.06 points and bank index lost 67.32 points. While auto index gained 50.63, consumer durables index was up 9.34 points and healthcare index was higher by 9.01 points.