Mumbai, Nov 16 (IANS): The Indian equity markets on Wednesday provisionally closed on a flat note due to heavy selling pressure witnessed during the second half of the session.

The key equity indices receded under the selling pressure in healthcare, consumer durables and banking stocks.

Earlier, in the day's trade the equity markets made gains on the back of positive global indices, coupled with higher crude oil prices and value buying in selective counters.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) inched up by 3.15 points or 0.04 per cent to 8,111.60 points.

On the other hand, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,508.94 points, provisionally closed at 26,298.69 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 5.94 points or 0.02 per cent from the previous close at 26,304.63 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,621.40 points and a low of 26,239.21 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,547 declines and 1,055 advances.

On Tuesday, the Indian equity markets had plunged due to rupee depreciation, foreign fund outflows and an anxiety over the impact of the demonetisation move.

The barometer index had declined by 514.19 points or 1.92 per cent, while the NSE Nifty receded by 187.85 points or 2.26 per cent.