INDIA STOCKS-Indian benchmarks flat at the open

Updates for markets open

Feb 25 (Reuters) - India's benchmark indexes were off to a muted start on Tuesday as gains in heavyweight financials were offset by losses in information technology stocks.

The Nifty 50 .NSEI inched 0.02% higher to 22,557 by 09:16 a.m. IST, while the BSE Sensex .BSESN was little changed at 74,440.3.

Eight of the 13 major sectors advanced at the open. The broader, more domestically focussed small-caps .NIFSMCP100 and mid-caps .NIFMDCP100 rose 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively.

Asian markets slipped on the day, with the MSCI Asia ex Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS down 0.9%, mirroring overnight losses in the U.S. MKTS/GLOB

IT <.NIFTYIT> fell 0.4%, extending Monday's losses, on concerns over slowing U.S. growth as they get a significant portion of their revenue from the country, while financials .NIFTYFIN were up 0.2%.

($1 = 86.7230 Indian rupees)