Mumbai, Aug 24 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday closed 55 points lower after heavy selling in realty, banking and power stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,790.25 points, closed at 17,795.14 points (provisional), 0.31 percent or 55.08 points down from its previous day's close at 17,850.22 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,822.50 points and a low of 17,725.42 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.46 percent down at 5,390.40 points.

The BSE realty index was down 38.71 points followed by the banking index, down 137.85 points, and power index, down 13.01 points.

The major Sensex gainers were ONGC, up 2.18 percent at Rs.287.75; Coal India, up 2.12 percent at Rs.366.40, Sterlite Inds, up 0.90 percent at Rs.112.55, Maruti Suzuki, up 0.86 percent at Rs.1,190, and Cipla, up 0.77 percent at Rs.366.50.

The main Sensex losers were Tata Steel, down 2.77 percent at Rs.387.55, Jindal Steel, down 2.46 percent at Rs.397.15, Hindalco Inds, down 1.90 percent at Rs.111.05, ICICI Bank, down 1.84 percent at Rs.955.20; and NTPC, down 1.26 percent at Rs.168.35.