From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 11:00 AM IST

The Indian equities market opened Monday with a marginal positive gap but turned flat in early trading flat, as power and metal indices faced selling pressure.

The 30-share benchmark sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, opened with a gain of 47.20 points at 15,390.15. Fifteen minutes into trading, the Sensex had slipped to 15,364.60, a gain of just 21.48 points compared to its close Friday.

At the same time the S and amp;P Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading at 4,665.50 points with a marginal gain of 18.50 from its previous close.

The market breadth was negative with very low volumes. In the initial trade 555 scrips advanced, 818 declined and 34 remained unchanged.

Ranbaxy Lab, ICICI Bank and ITC Ltd were among the initial gainers while BHEL, Larsen and Toubro and Tata Steel were among the stocks that edged lower in initial trade.

Other Asian markets were trading firm.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)