Mumbai, (IANS) : Indian equities markets opened marginally in the red in sync with their Asian peers during the early morning trade session on Monday.

Besides, investors’ sentiments were subdued due to lack of major global and domestic cues to direct the markets and compelled the key indices to trade in the negative territory.

Automobile, banking and consumer durables stocks witnessed heavy selling pressure.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) inched down by 21.60 points or 0.27 per cent at 8,117.85 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,505.66 points, traded at 26,433.25 points (at 9.30 a.m.) — was down 56.31 points or 0.21 per cent from the previous close at 26,489.56 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,505.66 points and a low of 26,401.02 points during the intra-day trade so far.

The BSE market breadth was slightly tilted in favour of the bears — with 698 declines and 709 advances.

The equity markets were dragged lower by broadly negative global markets, coupled with an outflow of foreign funds, on Friday last week.

The barometer index was down 29.51 points or 0.11 per cent, while the NSE Nifty inched down by 14.15 points or 0.17 per cent.