Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS): A day after it gained over 150 points, a benchmark index of the Indian equity markets was trading flat during the early morning session on Thursday.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was trading only 9 points up during the morning session.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat. It was up 5.30 points or 0.06 percent at 8,573.25 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex, which opened at 28,291.88 points, was trading at 28,232.44 points (9.30 a.m.), up only 9.36 points or 0.03 percent from the previous day's close at 28,223.08 points.

The Sensex so far touched a high of 28,314.40 points and a low of 28,211.46 points in the intra-day trade.

Sector-wise, healthy buying was observed in healthcare, consumer durables and information technology (IT) stocks. However, banking, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and metal sectors came under selling pressure.

The S&P BSE healthcare index increased by 203.57 points, followed by consumer durables index which gained by 176.72 points and IT index was higher by 64.01 points. The S&P BSE banking index receded by 81.95 points, FMCG index fell by 64.70 points and the metal index was lower by 62.27 points.