Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat in the morning trade session Monday - down 67.26 points or 0.24 percent percent as bank stocks plunged.

Healthy buying was observed in automobile, consumer durable and power stocks, however, metal, healthcare and information technology (IT) stocks fell.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,018.68 points, was trading at 27,979.40 points (at 10.25 a.m.), down 67.26 points or 0.24 percent from its previous day's close at 28,046.66 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,052.27 points and a low of 27,967.01 points in the trade so far.

The S&P bank index lost 90.87 points, metal index moved down 71.16 points, healthcare index fell 67.71 points and IT index inched lower by 54.70 points. However, automobile index gained 155.55 points, consumer durable index was up 32.55 points and power index rose by 15.26 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the negative territory. It was down 22.80 points or 0.27 percent at 8,367.10 points.