Sensex trades nearly 100 points down; consumer durables stocks rise

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading nearly 100 points down in the mid-afternoon trade session, even while consumer durables and oil and gas stocks rose.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the red during the mid-afternoon trade session. It was down 30.45 points or 0.35 percent at 8,747.85 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,889.27 points, was trading at 28,786.22 points (at 1.30 p.m.) in the mid-afternoon session, down 98.99 points or 0.34 percent from the previous day's close at 28,885.21 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 28,899.19 points and a low of 28,756.75 points in the intra-day trade so far.

Healthy buying was observed in consumer durables, oil and gas and metal sectors. However, healthcare, banking and capital goods stocks came under selling pressure.

The S&P BSE consumer durables index was higher by 84.87 points, followed by oil and gas index which gained 40.77 points and metal index rose 34.23 points.

However, healthcare index was down 188.86 points, banking index was lower by 107.75 points and capital goods index fell by 99.43 points.