Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading lower by nearly one percent in mid-afternoon trade session Thursday, as metal, bank and capital goods stocks plummeted.

The 30-scrip Sensex, which opened at 19,549.05 points, was ruling at 19,463.59 points, down 179.16 points or 0.91 percent from its previous close at 19,642.75 points.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,554.65 points and a low of 19,447.64 points.

The midcap index was down 52.76 points, while the smallcap index was lower by 64.77 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading lower by 7.65 points or 0.13 percent at 5,947.35 points.

All the sectoral indices of the exchange were in the red.

There was heavy selling pressure in metal, bank and capital goods scrips. The metal index was down 221.43 points, followed by the bank index, lower by 179.02 points, and the capital goods index, down 115.88 points.