Mumbai, July 18 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets gave up its morning gains to rule in the red Monday afternoon as selling gripped auto, IT and healthcare scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,592.19 points, was ruling at 18,483.64 points, down 78.28 points or 0.42 percent from its previous close Thursday at 18,561.92 points.

It had moved up to an intra-day high of 18,622.56 points in early trade but later slipped. It touched an intra-day low of 18,469.53 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading lower at 5,562.05 points, down 0.34 percent.

Broader markets too slipped and were ruling flat. The BSE midcap index nudged up while the BSE smallcap index was up 0.32 percent.

The market breadth at the BSE was still tilted towards the positive with 1,498 stocks advancing, 1,301 on the decline and 133 remaining unchanged.

Realty and metal stocks were among the top gainers, while auto, IT and healthcare scrips were losing.

Worries after some European banks came short on the stress test and debt woes of the US kept Asian markets subdued.

Japanese markets were closed Monday on account of a holiday.

The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange closed 0.32 percent lower at 21,804.75 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was ended on a flat note at 2,816.69 points.