Sensex loses 24 points; banking, oil and gas stocks drop

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat in the pre-noon trade Wednesday - down 24.24 points or 0.10 percent - as banking and oil and gas stocks slipped.

Good buying was observed in auto and consumer durables sectors, while selling pressure was seen in banking and oil and gas sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,421.49 points, was trading at 25,344.66 points, down 24.24 points or 0.10 percent from the previous day's close at 25,368.90 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,427.80 points and a low of 25,314.90 points during trade so far.

The S&P BSE auto index gained 76.72 points and consumer durables index went up by 59.96 points, while bankex went down by 61.65 points and oil and gas index dropped by 43.78 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat at 9.15 points or 0.12 percent down at 7,571.05 points.