Mumbai, Dec 20 (IANS): Weak global indices, coupled with foreign fund outflows and rupee depreciation, dragged the Indian equity markets lower on Tuesday.

The key indices provisionally closed on a flat note -- marginally in the red, as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in banking, healthcare and automobile stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slipped by 21.95 points or 0.27 per cent to 8,082.40 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,374.56 points, provisionally closed at 26,307.98 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 66.72 points or 0.25 per cent from the previous close at 26,374.70 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,435.56 points and a low of 26,241.43 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bears -- with 1,756 declines and 850 advances.

On Monday, the barometer index had closed lower by 114.86 points or 0.43 per cent, while the NSE Nifty inched down by 35.10 points or 0.43 per cent.