Mumbai, March 21 : Benchmark indices of Indian equities markets witnessed a choppy session with positive bias Monday as investors lacked direction after last week's correction.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), opened with a decent gain of over 100 points. However, the index pared the gains in the first hour of trading and was rangebound in the afternoon.

The benchmark Sensex, which opened at 17,984.72 points, was ruling 17,892.98 points, up 0.08 percent or 14.17 points from the previous close of 17,878.81 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was up 0.13 percent or 7.05 points at 7,380.75 points.

Among the sectoral indices, metal, oil and gas, FMCG and banking indexes were in the positive while realty, IT and technology indices were in the red.

Major gainers on the Sensex were: Jindal Steel, up 1.25 percent at Rs. 657.95; Tata Steel, up 1.16 percent at Rs. 603.20; HDFC, up 1.15 percent at Rs. 628.10; and Sterlite Inds, up 1.07 percent at Rs. 159.90.

Among major Sensex losers were Hindalco Inds, down 2.15 percent at Rs. 193; Cipla, down 1.45 percent at Rs. 289.55; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.02 percent at Rs. 1,146.50; and Reliance Comm, down 0.96 percent at Rs. 103.50. (IANS)