Sensex sheds 45 points; auto stocks tank

Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday was trading 44.76 points or 0.17 percent down as auto stocks tanked.

Selling pressure was seen in auto, capital goods and healthcare sectors, while good buying was observed in oil and gas sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,615.28 points, was trading at 25,537.35 points (at 11.36 a.m.) in the pre-noon session, down 44.76 points or 0.17 percent from the previous day's close at 25,582.11 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,683.97 points and a low of 25,369.21 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE auto index tanked by 294.95 points, capital goods index dropped by 132.50 points and healthcare index went down by 108.44 points.

However, oil and gas index moved up by 129.62 points. The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also was trading 11.85 points or 0.16 percent down at 7,611.35 points.