Mumbai, July 18 (IANS): Mixed global cues and cautiouness ahead of the announcement of quarterly results subdued the equity markets on Monday.

The key indices provisionally closed the day's trade in the red, with heavy selling pressure witnessed in telecom, oil and gas and metal stocks.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,920.66 points, provisionally closed at 27,746.66 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 89.84 points or 0.32 per cent from the previous close at 27,836.50 points.

It touched a high of 28,013.50 points and a low of 27,697.69 points during the intra-day trade. 

The market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,621 declines and 1,113 advances. 

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down to 8,499.95 points -- down 41.45 points or 0.49 per cent.

On Friday, the benchmark indices closed lower subdued by profit booking, a weak rupee and lower crude oil prices