Mumbai, May 7 - A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat --down 11.43 points or 0.05 percent in the opening trade session Wednesday as banks, capital goods and information technology (IT) stocks declined.

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

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,488.96 points, was trading at 22,496.99 points around 9.20 a. m. of the trade session, down 11.43 points or 0.05 percent from the previous day's close at 22,508.42 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 22,498.35 points and a low of 22,486.50 points in trade so far.

The S&P BSE bank index lost 36.42 points, followed by capital goods index which went down by 13.69 points and IT index inched lower by 19.70 points.

However, consumer durables index was up 134.09 points, automobile index gained 47.28 points and FMCG index was higher by 24.82 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also lost 5.85 points or 0.09 percent and was trading at 6,709.45 points. (IANS)