Sensex gains 32 points at close

The Sensex opened seven points higher at 5,679. After moving a tad higher, the index slipped into negative zone owing to selling pressure in technology and oil stocks.

The index touched to an intra-day low of 5,649, before fresh buying in banking stocks steadied the index. Fresh buying in technology and metal stocks saw the index rebound into positive zone in early noon deals.

As buying gained momentum, the index rallied to an intra-day high of 5,714 - up 65 points from the intra-day low. Some profit-taking at higher levels saw the index pare some gains, and finally close with a gain of 32 points at 5,704.

The Nifty moved in a range of 1,800-1,777, before finishing 11 points higher at 1,798.

While 19 Sensex stocks advanced, 11 declined today. Advancing shares registered a volume of 1.15 crore for Rs 520.23 crore, and declining shares accounted for a volume of 0.41 crore amounting to Rs 198.23 crore.

Infosys rallied 2.1% (Rs 41) to Rs 1,947. Satyam and Wipro ended finished with marginal losses at Rs 372 and Rs 655, respectively.

Reliance and HLL were up a rupee each at Rs 530 and Rs 125, respectively. ITC finished Rs 2 lower at Rs 1,086.

SBI zoomed 4.8% (Rs 22) to Rs 469. HDFC Bank rallied 1.4% (Rs 6) to Rs 420. ICICI Bank, however, ended Rs 3 lower at Rs 296.

HDFC declined 1.5% (Rs 10) to Rs 630.

Bhel ended a per cent (Rs 7) higher at Rs 632, and Larsen & Toubro moved up Rs 2 to Rs 832.

Hindalco and Tisco surged 2% each to Rs 1,213 and Rs 293, respectively.

Ranbaxy gained Rs 8 at Rs 1,107, and Cipla moved up a rupee to Rs 280. However, Dr.Reddy's dropped Rs 6 to Rs 746.

Maruti and Hero Honda rallied Rs 4 each to Rs 379 and Rs 427,

respectively. Bajaj Auto was down Rs 2 at Rs 962, and Tata Motors was down a rupee at Rs 416.

ACC spurted 1.5% (Rs 4) to Rs 260. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja also posted smart gains at Rs 1,092 and Rs 345, respectively.

While Tata Power rallied 1.9% (Rs 6) to Rs 306, Reliance Energy gained Rs 3 at Rs 630.

Zee dropped 2.4% (Rs 4) to Rs 146.

The BSE Metal index surged 1.6% to 4,933. The BSE BANKEX advanced a per cent to 2,765, and the BSE TECk and PSU indices also posted smart gains at 1,538 and 3,641, respectively.

Syngenta zoomed 11% (Rs 35) to Rs 347. HMT soared 9% (Rs 2.55) to Rs 30.35. Finolex Cables, Ramco System, Indian Hotels, MICO, Bank of India, Geometric Software, Sterltie Optical, Abbott India, Essel Propack, Tata Tea, GAIL, VSNL, GMDC, Andhra Bank, Ispat Industries and Container Corporation rallied 3-6% each.

Aurobindo Pharma slumped 8% (Rs 30) to Rs 340. i-flex and FDC plunged over 4% each to Rs 569 and Rs 48, respectively. Federal Bank, Welspun Gujarat, Dena Bank, Asahi India, Ballarpur Industries, D-Link India, BEML, Cummins, Gillette India, Hinduja TMT, Maharashtra Seamless and Alok Industries declined 2-3% each.

SAIL topped the volume chart with a hefty combined (BSE+NSE) volume of around 3.64 crore shares. It was followed by Tisco (89.03 lakh), Reliance (69.42 lakh), Maruti (60.93 lakh) and Ispat Industries (52.39 lakh).

Reliance topped the value chart with a combined turnover of Rs 368.70 crore followed by Infosys (Rs 331.95 crore), Tisco (Rs 258.04 crore), Maruti (Rs 230.38 crore) and SBI (Rs 215.34 crore).