Mumbai, April 9 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading flat during the late-afternoon session on Thursday -- marginally down by 1.30 points as healthcare stocks plunged.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat during the late-afternoon trade session and was up 14.55 points or 0.17 percent at 8,728.95 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,858.42 points, was trading at 28,706.45 points (at 2.30 p.m.) in the late-afternoon trade session -- down 1.30 points from the previous day's close at 28,707.75 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,875.08 points and a low of 28,622.44 points in the intra-day trade so far.

Healthy buying was observed in banking and metal sectors, while heavy selling pressure was seen in healthcare, capital goods and automobile stocks.

The S&P BSE bank index was up 340.10 points followed by metal index which was higher by 80.14 points.

However, the S&P BSE healthcare index was lower by 410.72 points, capital goods index fell by 146 points and automobile index was down 80.13 points.