Sensex continues to trade listless

Mumbai - A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday  continued to trade listless amid dull global cues. A little less than an  hour before closing bell, auto stocks were among the major losers while  consumer durables gained.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE),  which opened at 18,394.57 points, was ruling at 18,369.16 points -- down  25.13 points or 0.14 percent from its previous close at 18,394.29 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading  subdued at 5,518 points, down 0.16 percent.

Broader markets were ruling flat with the BSE midcap index slipping 0.17  percent and the BSE smallcap index almost unchanged from its previous close.

The market breadth was mixed with 1,329 stocks advancing, 1,399 on the  decline and 128 remaining unchanged.

Among gainers on the Sensex were NTPC, BHEL, L&T and TCS, while losers on  the benchmark index included ONGC, RCom and SBI. Auto majors Hero Honda,  Tata Motors and Maruti too lost significantly.

Global markets were ruling dull with traders cautious after US Federal  Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday that the US economic recovery had  slowed in recent weeks.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange closed 0.19 percent up at 9,467.15  points, while the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange shed 0.23  percent to end at 22,609.83 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index closed 1.71 percent lower at 2,703.35  points.

European markets too were trading lacklustre.