Sensex trades flat, auto stocks gain

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat in the pre-afternoon trade session Monday - up 24.25 points, as no major domestic or global cue effected sentiments at the bourses.

Healthy buying was observed in automobile, FMCG and consumer durable stocks. However, robust selling took place in information technology (IT) and TECK stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,479.87 points, was trading at 27,396.09 points (at 11.00 a.m.), up 24.25 points or 0.09 percent from its previous day's close at 27,371.84 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,509.59 points and a low of 27,391.40 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE automobile index gained 95.13 points, FMCG index moved up 90.42 points, and consumer durables index rose 59.65 points.

However, IT index slipped lower by 84.05 points, TECK index lost 32.67 points and capital goods index fell 0.43 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading flat. It was up 10.10 points or 0.12 percent at 8,235.30 points.