Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS): With investors' sentiment turning cautious ahead of the earnings season for the July-September period, key Indian equity indices on Monday was trading flat during the afternoon session.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) was trading flat at 14.34 points or 0.05 per cent higher during the afternoon session.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat at 1.20 points or 0.01 per cent lower at 9,978.50 points.

The Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 31,862.20 points, was trading at 31,828.56 points (at 1.04 p.m.), higher by 14.34 points or 0.05 per cent from Friday's close at 31,814.22 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 31,935.63 points and a low of 31,781.75 in the trade so far.

"The BSE Sensex opened lower on Monday against the previous session's closing. The broader NSE's Nifty too fell in the morning hours. The Indian rupee strengthened against the US dollar in the opening trade," said Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls.

"Sentiment turned cautious as earnings season for the July-September quarter kicks off this week with over 30 companies scheduled to report their Q2 numbers. These include TCS, Reliance Industries, South India Bank, IndusInd Bank, Cyient and Bajaj Corporation, among others," he added.