Mumbai, Aug 13 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading almost 15 points down Monday afternoon after auto, banking and FMCG stocks came under intense selling.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,551.69 points, was ruling at 17,543.05 points, 0.08 percent or 14.69 points down from its previous day's close at 17,557.74 points.

The BSE auto index was down 65.60 points, followed by banking index, down 56.33 points, and FMCG index down 5.91 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.08 percent down at 5,316.05 points.

The main Sensex losers were Tata Motors, down 2.46 percent at Rs.226.30; Hindalco Inds, down 2.08 percent at Rs.120.25; Hero MotoCorp, down 1.47 percent at Rs.1,886.15; ICICI Bank, down 1.18 percent at Rs.943.40; and Tata Steel, down 1.14 percent at Rs.395.85.

The major gainers were Maruti Suzuki, up 2.28 percent at Rs.1,190; Bharti Airtel, up 1.70 percent at Rs.260.10; HDFC, up 1.63 percent at Rs.701; and Sterlite Inds, up 1.31 percent at Rs.112.45.