Sensex drops 96 points; oil and gas stocks down

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday was trading 96.35 points or 0.34 percent down as oil and gas stocks slipped.

Heavy selling pressure was seen in oil and gas, IT and banking stocks, while some good buying was observed in healthcare sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,056.61 points, was trading at 27,979.20 points (at 09.19 a.m.) in the early session, down 96.35 points or 0.34 percent from the previous day's close at 28,075.55 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 28,106.22 points and a low of 27,950.91 points in the trade so far.

The S&P oil and gas index tanked by 71.89 points, IT index slipped 68.38 points and bankex dropped by 59.06 points. However, healthcare index gained by 50.75 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 34.10 points or 0.40 percent down at 8,460.05 points.