Mumbai, Feb 26 : Ahead of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu's maiden budget, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) was trading 78 points or 0.27 percent down in the Thursday's pre-afternoon trade session.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the red. It was down 24.05 points or 0.27 percent at 8,743.20 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 29,051.90 points, was trading at 28,930.36 points (10.40 a.m.), down 77.63 points or 0.27 percent from the previous day's close at 29,007.99 points.

The Sensex had touched a high of 29,069.13 points and a low of 28,885.33 points in the intra-day trade so far.

Stocks of automobile, healthcare, capital goods, information technology (IT), bank and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) came under heavy selling pressure. 

Only metal index had made marginal gains in the day's trade so far.

The S&P BSE automobile index decreased by 150.61 points, followed by healthcare index which plunged 140.76 points, capital goods index was lower by 73.46 points, IT index fell by 64.51 points, bank index declined by 57.95 points and FMCG index was down 44.62 points.

However, metal index was up 1.17 points.

Railway Minister Prabhu will present his maiden railway budget in the Lok Sabha Thursday amid expectations that his proposals will re-energise one of the largest railroad networks in the world, while seeking to improve passenger amenities and safety.