Equity markets, which opened lower Thursday, were flat in extremely choppy trade early in the day. Realty and PSU stocks were under selling pressure in initial trade.

The 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened with a loss of 6.82 points at 14,289.97. Ten minutes into trading, it was at 14,292.57 points, 4.22 points or 0.03 percent below its closing figure Wednesday.

However, at the same time the S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange was trading at 4,293.90 with a gain of 1.80 points or 0.04 percent from its previous close. 

The market breadth was positive. On BSE, 406 shares advanced, 258 declined and 37 remained unchanged.

Mahindra and Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Satyam computers were among the gainers while Hindalco, DLF and ITC were among the losers in initial trade.

Other Asian markets were also trading mixed.