Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was range bound in the afternoon session Friday as a rise in auto, IT and FMCG stocks offset a slump in realty, metal and oil and gas stocks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened marginally down at 18,194.15 points, was ruling at 18,220.11 points in the afternoon, up 0.06 percent or 10.59 points from the earlier close at 18,209.52 points.
The benchmark Sensex touched a high of 18,334.27 points and a low of 18,131.86 points in the intra-day.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also witnessing sluggish trading. The index was in the positive in the morning session and slipped into red in the afternoon. Nifty was ruling 0.05 percent down at 5,485.15 points.
Maruti Suzuki was up 2.14 percent at Rs.1,211.80. Other major Sensex gainers were: ITC, up 1.50 percent at Rs.209.15, ICICI Bank, up 1.42 percent at Rs.1,032.00, and Sterlite Inds, up 1.01 percent at Rs.164.70.
Majors Sensex losers were: Jindal Steel, down 4.65 percent at Rs.584.95, Jaiprakash Asso, down 3.58 percent at Rs.67.35, and ONGC, down 2.44 percent at Rs.269.90.
