Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed flat Tuesday - down 54.53 points or 0.20 percent.

Healthy buying was observed in consumer durables, banking, oil and gas, auto, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare, IT and metal sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,316.43 points, closed trade at 27,265.32 points, down 54.53 points or 0.20 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 27,177.09 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE IT fell by 86.67 points, capital goods index lost 66.52 points, oil and gas index down by 56.76 points, bankex inched lower by 39.20 points and technology, entertainment and media (TECk) slipped 26.19 points.

However, consumer durables index gained by 168.86 points, FMCG index was up 64.26 points, automobile index was higher by 60.13 points, healthcare index was 59.95 points up and metal index augmented by 12.73 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed in red. It was down 20.95 points or 0.26 percent at 8,152.95 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Cipla, up 2.09 percent at Rs.575.20; Coal India, up 1.66 percent at Rs.380.70; Tata Motors, up 1.32 percent at Rs.517.25; ITC, up 1.16 percent at Rs.357.65; and Gail, up 0.93 percent at Rs.458.05.

The losers were: Bajaj Auto, down 1.53 percent at Rs.2,325.20; ONGC, 1.31 percent at Rs.448.85; ICICI Bank, down 1.31 percent at Rs.1,547.70; Hero MotoCorp, down 1.17 percent at Rs.2,749.25; and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) down 1.15 percent at Rs.1,607.

In Asian markets, Nikkei closed 0.28 percent up, while Hong Kong's Hang Sang closed 0.20 percent lower. However, China's Shanghai Composite index marginally up by 0.02 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was down 0.07 percent, Germany's DAX Index was 0.23 percent lower, and France's CAC 40 was fell by 0.17 percent.