Sensex trades 124 points down in afternoon session

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 124.60 points or 0.62 percent down, during the afternoon trade Thursday.

Some positive buying was observed in auto and oil and gas sectors, while selling pressure was seen in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), capital goods and metal sectors.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,062.00 points, was trading at 19,966.08 points in the afternoon session, down 124.60 points or 0.62 percent from previous day's close at 20,090.68 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,110.81 points and a low of 19,910.08 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE auto index moved up by 75.29 points and the oil and gas index increased by 21.64 points. However, the FMCG index plunged by 201.71 points, the capital goods index dropped by 81.71 points and the metal index dipped by 65.68 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 35.05 points or 0.59 percent down at 5,955.45 points.