Sensex sheds 13 pts at close

The market was volatile throughout the trading session today. The Sensex, which opened with a gain of seven points at 5,675, soon drifted into negative territory as select stocks showed signs of nervousness owing to selling pressure.

After bouncing back into the green from its early lows, the index, on the back of strong buying support in select tech, heavyweight, PSU and other old economy stocks, spurted to an intra-day high of 5,710.

While steady buying support kept the markets in a range-bound trend till mid-noon trades, the index, however, tumbled towards the closing to touch a low of 5,644 following selling pressure in select old economy stocks.

The Sensex, after a swing of 77 points during the intra-day trades, finally wrapped up the last day of the trading weak with a loss of 13 points at 5,655. The Nifty slipped below the 1,800-mark to end with a loss of 13 points at 1,796.

Reliance slipped from higher levels to end down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 526. HLL lost 1.91% (Rs 3) to Rs 141. ITC, however, clocked a per cent gain (Rs 8) to close at Rs 1,076.

Zee stock was hammered today, and the counter slumped 6.35% (Rs 9) to close at Rs 128. HDFC (down Rs 3 to Rs 597), HDFC Bank (down Rs 6 or 1.57% to Rs 376), ONGC (down Rs 5 to Rs 840), Reliance Energy (down Rs 8 to Rs 725), Tisco (down Rs 11 or 2.88% to Rs 358) and Tata Power (down Rs 5 or 1.31% to Rs 380)

ended at lower levels.

Bajaj, after a mixed outing, was down 1.27% (Rs 12) at Rs 921. Tata Motors also ended lower with a loss of 1.16% (Rs 6) at Rs 473. Hero Honda, however, ended with a steady gain of Rs 2 at Rs 483.

Infosys attracted considerable buying support, and mopped up 2% gains (Rs 103) to Rs 5,147. While Wipro added Rs 15 to Rs 1,544, Satyam closed up a rupee at Rs 321.

MTNL rose 2.35% (Rs 3) to Rs 148. SBI, BHEL and HPCL were up Rs 3 each at Rs 643, Rs 586 and Rs 460, respectively.

L&T added 1.51% (Rs 8) to Rs 567. While ACC moved up 1.89% (Rs 5) to Rs 280, Gujarat Ambuja closed up a rupee at Rs 333. Grasim, however, ended a rupee lower at Rs 1,236.

Cipla advanced 1.52% (Rs 20) to Rs 1,368. Dr. Reddy's was marginally up by Rs 4 at Rs 869. Ranbaxy, however, was down a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 1,063.