Sensex trades 0.51 percent down in pre-noon session

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 0.51 percent down during the pre-noon session Wednesday.

Selling pressure was observed in stocks like consumer durbales, metals, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and auto; while positive movement was seen in oil and gas, healthcare and realty stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,103.96 points, was trading at 19,046.24 points in the pre-noon session, down 96.76 points or 0.51 percent from its previous day's close at 19,143.00 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 19,135.20 points and a low of 19,013.41 points in pre-noon trade.

The S&P BSE consumer durables index plunged 410.30 points, the metals index slid 144.38 points, FMCG was down by 101.57 points and auto dipped 116.40 points; while the oil and gas index inched up by 38 points, healthcare increased by 29.74 points and realty crawled up by 0.69 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat at 0.29 percent or 17.05 points down at 5771.75 points.