Mumbai, Aug 28 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 40 points lower in afternoon trade Tuesday after heavy selling in metal, consumer durables and capital goods stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,676.13 points, was ruling at 17,638.35 points, 0.23 percent or 40.46 points down from its previous day's close at 17,678.81 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,712.35 points and a low of 17,631.37 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.30 percent down at 5,334.25 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE metal index was down 262.48 points followed by the consumer durable index, down 90.72 points, and the capital goods index, down 121.61 points.

The main Sensex losers were Jindal Steel, down 5.24 percent at Rs.357.40, Sterlite Inds, down 4.54 percent at Rs.105.15, Tata Steel, down 2.78 percent at Rs.374.80, Hindalco Inds, down 2.54 percent at Rs.107.25; and Larsen and Toubro, down 1.76 percent at Rs.1,373.

The major gainers were Tata Power, up 2.59 percent at Rs.99.20, TCS, up 1.66 percent at Rs.1,341, Infosys, up 1.39 percent at Rs.2,444, NTPC, up 0.95 percent at Rs.170.50; and Wipro, up 0.91 percent at Rs.364.40.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.57 percent while Shanghai's composite index was trading 0.85 percent higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.03 percent.