Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed flat in volatile trade Friday as capital goods, oil and gas and automobile stocks fell on profit booking.

Bearish sentiments took hold of the investors a day after the market gained 480.92 points or 1.81 percent as the US Fed said it will maintain interest rates to near zero for a "considerable time" even after its bond-buying programme ends.

Sectoral indices such as capital goods, oil and gas, automobiles, metal and realty sustained losses, while healthy gains were observed in information technology (IT), technology, entertainment and media (teck) and healthcare stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,139.39 points, closed trade at 27,090.42 points (provisionally), down 21.79 or 0.08 percent from the previous day's close at 27,112.21 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,247.17 points and a low of 27,047.68 points in intra-trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods index lost 290.91 points, oil and gas index was down by 136.45 points, automobile index fell 127.76 points, metal index was down by 60.70 points and realty index fell 14.44 points.

However, IT index gained 144.57 points, teck index increased by 66.10 points and healthcare index moved up by 45.36 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed flat. It was up 6.70 points or 0.08 percent at 8,121.45 points.