Mumbai, Aug 2 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was down 68 points in afternoon trade Thursday on profit booking after recent gains.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,245.68 points, was ruling at 17,189.36 points, 0.39 percent or 68.02 points down from its previous day's close at 17,257.38 points.

It had gained nearly 620 points in the last four sessions.

The BSE oil and gas index was down 92.35 points, followed by metal index, down 75.92 points, and banking index, down 77.69 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.40 percent down at 5,219.35 points.

The main Sensex losers were Tata Motors, down 2.11 percent at Rs.222.50; Sterlite Inds, down 2.08 percent at Rs.103.75; Tata Power, down 1.66 percent at Rs.98; Tata Steel, down 1.48 percent at Rs.403.30; and ONGC, down 1.45 percent at Rs.276.20.

The major Sensex gainers were NTPC, up 2.99 percent at Rs.162.05; Jindal Steel, up 1.23 percent at Rs.404.80; ITC, up 0.87 percent at Rs.261; BHEL, up 0.70 percent at Rs.221.85; and Larsen and Toubro, up 0.59 percent at Rs.1,389.10

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.13 percent while the Shanghai composite index was down 0.57 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was also down 0.66 percent.