MUMBAI: Benchmarks were witnessing a choppy session with negative bias in the afternoon due to lack of cues from global peers. FMCG and metals led the decline while realty and auto showed some strength.

At 12:30 pm, Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex was at 17564.35, down 25.82 points or 0.15 per cent. The 30-share index hit a low of 17532.99 and high of 17699.50.

National Stock Exchange’s Nifty was at 5250.35, down 12.1 points or 0.23 per cent. The broader index touched a high of 5293.90 and low of 5241.20.

BSE Midcap Index was up 0.15 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index moved 0.62 per cent higher.

Amongst the sectoral indices, BSE Realty Index was up 0.77 per cent and BSE Auto Index gained 0.45 per cent. BSE FMCG Index moved 0.94 per cent lower and BSE Metal Index declined 0.82 per cent.

Sensex gainers included Sun Pharma (1.68%), NTPC (1.55%), DLF (1.54%), HDFC (1.42%) and Bharti Airtel (1.25%).

Hindalco (-1.90%), ITC (-1.54%), TCS (-0.99%), Tata Steel (-0.91%) and Hindustan Unilever (-0.89%) led the decline.

Market breadth was positive on the BSE with 1525 advances and 1063 declines.

European markets are likely to open in the red suggest stock futures. At 12:30 pm IST, FTSE 100 stock futures was down 0.71 per cent, DAX 30 slipped 0.02 per cent and CAC 40 declined 0.01 per cent.