Mumbai, Jun 8 (IANS): Snapping a four-day gaining streak, a benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading 0.52 percent down Friday afternoon due to profit booking in banking, consumer durables and automobile stocks.

The weakness of the rupee also affected market sentiments. It weakened by 21 paise to 55.15 against the dollar.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), was ruling at 16,562.57 points - 86.48 points or 0.52 percent down from its previous close at 16,649.05 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 16,625.71 points and low of 16,530.81 points in the intra-day trade.

The banking index was down by 107.80 points, the consumer durable index by 57.07 points and automobile index by 75.42 points.

Major Sensex losers included ONGC, down 2.11 percent at Rs.257.30; Infosys, down 2.04 percent at Rs.2,403; ICICI Bank, down 1.58 percent at Rs.816.80; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.55 percent at Rs.1,125.80 and Bajaj Auto, down 1.20 percent at Rs.1,526.50.

Major Sensex gainers included Sterlite Inds, up 2.88 percent at Rs.100; Hindustan Unilever, up 1.46 percent at Rs.428.75; Gail India, up 0.82 percent at Rs.324.50; Larsen and Toubro, up 0.56 percent at Rs.1284; BHEL, up 0.44 percent at Rs.218.75.