Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities market was trading flat in the 12.30 p.m. trade session Tuesday, as government data showed that the industrial output contracted 0.6 percent in December 2012.

According to data released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the index of industrial production (IIP) logged a decline of 0.6 percent growth year-on-year in December 2012.

In the corresponding month of 2011, this had registered a growth of 2.7 percent. The IIP decelerated to 0.1 percent growth in November 2012.

The 30-scrip Sensex, which opened at 19,489.87 points, was ruling at 19,526.01 points, up 65.44 points or 0.34 percent from its previous close at 19,460.57 points.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,526.01 points and a low of 19,438.53 points. The midcap index was down 35.12 points, while the smallcap index was lower by 56.01 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading higher by 16.95 points or 0.29 percent at 5,914.80 points.

There was heavy selling pressure in realty, information technology (IT) and metal stocks. However, oil and gas, healthcare and bank scrips rallied.

Major indices like the realty index was down 84.44 points. And so were the IT index, down 44.85 points and metal index, down 41.48 points.

The oil and gas index was up 100.56 points, followed by the healthcare index, up 60.81 points, and the bank index, up 43.23 points.