Mumbai, Oct 20 (IANS): Caution over quarterly results coupled with profit bookings subdued Indian equity markets on Tuesday and led to a barometer index provisionally closing lower by 86 points or 0.31 percent.

Initially, both the bellwether indices opened flat in line with their Asian peers.

Further denting sentiments were Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan's comments made on Monday cautioning the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stop some countries from initiating policies that might negatively impact global economy.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded flat during the day and closed lower by 23 points or 0.28 percent at 8,252.05 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (S&P Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,402.90 points, provisionally closed at 27,278.86 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- 86.06 points or 0.31 percent lower from its previous close at 27,364.92 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,432.07 points and a low of 27,216.40 points during the intra-day trade.

The barometer index closed the previous trading session on October 19 with gains of 150 points or 0.55 percent.