MUMBAI: Indian equity markets traded on a flat note during the mid-afternoon session on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the US presidential election.
Profit booking after Monday's gains triggered heavy selling pressure in healthcare, capital goods and IT stocks.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) inched up by 7.55 points or 0.09 pct to 8,504.60 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,537.26 points, traded at 27,479.47 points (at 2.00 p.m.) -- up only 20.48 points or 0.07 pct from the previous close at 27,458.99 points.
The Sensex has so far touched a high of 27,600.71 points and a low of 27,406.76 points during the intra-day trade.
In contrast, the BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,582 declines and 1,154 advances.
On Monday, the Indian equity markets closed in the green due to positive global cues.
The barometer index rose by 184.84 points or 0.68 pct, while the NSE Nifty edged up by 63.30 points or 0.75 pct.
According to Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, the CNX Nifty traded with sideways sentiments due to selling pressure.
"IT, banking, pharma and auto stocks faced resistance at higher levels. Oil-gas, textile, aviation and media-entertainment stocks trading down due to selling pressure," Desai said.
"FMCG and power stocks traded with mixed sentiments, while cement stocks traded firm on buying support from traders."
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