MUMBAI: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed flat, paring gains of earlier sessions with information technology (IT) and automobile stocks losing the most.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex (sensitive index) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 21,872.68 points, closed at 21,832.86 points -- up 0.25 points from its previous close of 21,832.61 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 21,895.83 points and a low of 21,782.01 points during intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed 7.40 points or 0.11 percent up at 6,524.05 points.

Heavy selling pressure was observed in IT, technology, entertainment and media (TECk) and automobile stocks. However, metal, bank and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) scrips gained.

Sector-wise, the S&P BSE IT index was down 198.97 points, followed by TECk index which fell by 79.80 points and automobile index which fell 8.98 points.

However, the S&P BSE metal index was up 189.60 points, while the bank index gained by 83.80 points and the FMCG index moved higher 82.22 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Tata Steel, up 4.58 percent at 356.30; Hindalco Inds, up 4.44 percent at 119.95; Axis Bank, up 2.78 percent at 1,386.15; Sesa Sterlite, up 2.09 percent at 175.95; and HDFC, up 1.77 percent at 866.50.

The losers were: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), down 3.84 percent at 2,040.95; ONGC, down 3.22 percent at 314.30; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 2.79 percent at 982.10; Coal India, down 2.63 percent at 263.30; and Gail India, down 2.53 percent at 360.10.