Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Friday's trade provisionally down 251 points or 0.91 percent.

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

Heavy selling pressure was seen in capital goods, oil and gas, consumer durables, metal and banking sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,598.96 points, closed trade at 27,350.68 points (provisionally), down 251.33 points or 0.91 percent from the previous day's close at 27,602.01 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,692.32 points and a low of 27,320.05 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods index fell 310.91 points, followed by oil and gas index which tanked by 265.03 points, consumer durables index ended 223.68 points lower, metal index lost 155.32 points and bankex shed 113.96 points.

However, healthcare index was up 27.68 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended in red. It was down 68.80 points or 0.83 percent at 8,224.10 points.