Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Thursday's trade down 239 points or 0.86 percent as oil and gas stocks tanked.

All the industry sector-based indices of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed in the red expect for healthcare.

Heavy selling pressure was seen in oil and gas, auto, information technology (IT), capital goods and banking sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,796.34 points, closed trade at 27,592.49 points, down 238.61 points or 0.86 percent from the previous day's close at 27,831.10 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,796.34 points and a low of 27,539.47 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index tanked by 275.96 points, automobile index ended 152.43 points lower, IT index lost 128.66 points, capital goods index fell by 97.58 points and bankex shed 74.47 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended 62.75 points or 0.75 percent down at 8,292.90 points.