Sensex trades flat ahead of RBI policy statement

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat at 27.37 points or 0.13 percent down in the morning trade Friday, ahead of new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chief Raghuram Rajan's first monetary policy statement.

Some good buying was observed in IT and healthcare sectors, while metal, capital goods, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and banking index (bankex) sectors saw selling pressure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20616.35 points, was trading at 20619.27 points in the pre-noon session, down 27.37 points or 0.13 percent from the previous day's close at 20646.64 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20649.38 points and a low of 20551.89 points during the trade so far.

The S&P BSE IT index moved up by 68.12 points and healthcare index inched up by 50.22 points. However, metal index dropped by 102.23 points, capital goods index dipped by 73.76 points, FMCG index slipped by 52.35 points and bankex went down by 63.20 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat at 12.80 points or 0.21 percent down at 6,102.75 points.