Mumbai, Feb 18 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index for Indian equities was ruling 49 points in the red during early trade Thursday.

At 9.20 a.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,421.2 points, was at 16,379.76 points, down 49.15 points or 0.3 percent from its previous close.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 4,898.25 points, against the previous close at 4,914 points, a loss of 0.32 percent or 15.75 points.

Broader markets were, however, in the green, with the BSE midcap index up 0.13 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.27 percent higher.