Sensex inches up in afternoon trade

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 0.56 percent up in afternoon trade Tuesday.

While there was good buying trend seen in healthcare, capital goods, bankex and auto sectors, stocks like IT and consumer durables took a dip.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,605.68 points, was trading at 19,719.96 points in the afternoon session, up 109.48 points or 0.56 percent from its previous day's close at 19,610.48 points.

Sensex touched a high of 19,742.70 points and a low of 19,576.18 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat at 0.03 percent or 1.80 points up at 5,941.10 points.

The S&P BSE healthcare index was up by 173.10 points, capital goods index surged by 182.92 points, bankex moved up by 97.73 points and auto index inched up by 74.97 points. However, IT index was down by 35.62 points and consumer durables dipped by 25.97 points.