Mumbai, Jan. 21 -- The key equity benchmarks traded near the flatline with some negative points in the afternoon trade as global uncertainties and patchy earnings weighed on risk appetite.

The Nifty traded below the 25,250 mark. Oil & gas, metal and media shares advanced while consumer durables, IT and private bank shares declined.

At 13:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex shed 65.95 points or 0.08% to 82,116.92. The Nifty 50 index fell 24.15 points or 0.09% to 25,212.50.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 0.65% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index fell 0.58%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 1,424 shares rose and 2,715 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unch...