Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday afternoon was trading quiet, tracking negative other Asian markets.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,981.06 points, was trading at 17,942.41 points, 49.59 points or 0.28 percent down from its previous close at 17,992 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling a meagre 0.06 percent up at 5,401.05 points.

Broader markets indices were also flat with the BSE midcap index 0.74 percent up and the BSE smallcap index trading 0.72 percent higher.

Consumer durables stocks were on the rise, some banking and metals scrips saw buying. Realty and IT stocks saw some selling.

The market breadth was mixed, with 1,564 scrips advancing, compared to 1,154 stocks declining, and 104 remaining unchanged.

Fears of an American recovery faltering, fuelled by a downbeat forecast by the US Federal Reserve, spooked other major Asian markets.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.64 percent lower at 9,537.3 points, while the South Korean Kospi ended 0.65 percent down at 1,759.33 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.53 percent at 20,982.07 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index was trading 0.34 percent lower at 2,639.23 points.