Sensex trades flat

Mumbai, July 31 (IANS) Anxiety over the Reserve Bank of India's ability to ease interest rates early next month weighed heavy on Indian equities markets Thursday as a benchmark index was trading flat in the morning session.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 26,105.89 points, was trading at 26,076.49 points around 10.30 a.m. down 10.93 points or 0.04 percent, from its previous close at 26,087.42 points.

The 50-scrip S&P; CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading flat at 7,789 points, 2.40 points or 0.03 percent down from its previous close.

The Reserve Bank of India will lay out the monetary policy for the next quarter in early August. Analysts are of the view that the central bank make keep the rates steady.

In the day's trade, metal index of the BSE gained 163.39 points, followed by capital goods index which was 101.75 points up and oil and gas index which rose 37.72 points.

However, buying pressure was observed in information technology, bank and healthcare stocks.

IT index was down 43.62 points, bank index was lower by 33.87 points and healthcare index dipped 28.30 points.