Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS): A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading 31 points or 0.11 percent down in the afternoon session of trade Tuesday.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the red. It was down 6.75 points or 0.08 percent at 8,748.20 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 29,016.55 points, was trading at 28,944.14 points (1.00 p.m.), down 30.97 points or 0.11 percent from the previous day's close at 28,975.11 points.

The Sensex had so far touched a high of 29,054.82 points and a low of 28,917.63 points in the intra-day trade.

Sector-wise, oil and gas, metal and automobile stocks came under selling pressure; while healthy buying was observed in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), capital goods and information technology (IT) sectors.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index plunged 160.37 points, followed by metal index which declined 100.03 points and automobile index fell by 82.08 points.

However, FMCG index gained 84.23 points, capital goods index was up 76.72 points and IT index rose 53.81 points.