Mumbai, Oct 8 (IANS): A day after it fell around 300 points on negative global cues, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday traded flat in the early morning session -- down 10.60 points or 0.04 percent, as healthcare, metal and information technology (IT) stocks fell.

However, healthy buying was observed in capital goods, automobile, consumer durable, banks and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,229.67 points, was trading at 26,261.37 points (at 9.30 a.m.) in the early morning trade session, down 10.60 points or 0.04 percent from the previous day's close at 26,271.97 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,334.35 points and a low of 26,187.81 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE healthcare index was down 234.34 points, followed by metal index which was lower by 104.84 points, IT index lost 98.17 points and technology, media and entertainment (TECK) index decreased by 43.94 points.

However, capital goods index was up 134.02 points, automobile index gained 84.57 points, consumer durable index was higher by 61.47 points, bank index increased by 52.63 points and FMCG index moved up by 49.64 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the red. It was down 12.45 points or 0.16 percent at 7,839.95 points.