Mumbai, March 21 (IANS): Indian equity markets provisionally closed on a flat-to-negative note on Tuesday, with heavy selling pressure witnessed in healthcare, banking and automobile stocks.

A strong rupee and broadly positive global cues aided the key indices to pare some losses and close the day on a flat note.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was a tad lower by 5.35 points or 0.06 per cent at 9,121.50 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 29,525.88 points, provisionally closed at 29,485.45 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 33.29 points or 0.11 per cent from the previous close at 29,518.74 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,585.05 points and a low of 29380.14 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,689 declines and 1,096 advances.

On Monday, the benchmark indices closed lower on the back of broadly negative global cues and sector-specific selling pressure.