Mumbai, July 16 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets turned negative in late afternoon session Monday with IT and metal stocks coming under selling pressure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,241.98 points, was ruling at 17,212.55 points, down 0.01 percent or 1.15 points from its previous day close at 17,213.70 points.
The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.03 percent higher at 5,229.05 points.
The major Sensex gainers were: Bharti Airtel, up 3.65 percent at Rs.319.05; Dr Reddys Lab, up 2.57 percent at Rs.1,688.65; Maruti Suzuki, up 2.02 percent at Rs.1,207.55; SBI, up 1.32 percent at Rs.2,208; and Cipla, up 1.17 percent at Rs.332.75.
The losers were: Tata Steel, down 3.47 percent at Rs.410.90; Jindal Steel, down 2.36 percent at Rs.420.30; Infosys, down 2.28 percent at Rs.2,176.95; Tata Power, down 1.77 percent at Rs.96.95; TCS, down 1.53 percent at Rs.1,230.50.
In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei was 0.05 percent up and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 0.15 percent higher. China’s Composite index was 1.74 percent down.