The markets opened on a negative note with a gap of 6 points at 4,733. The index touched an intra-day low of 4,718 in early morning deals itself.

Lack of either buying or selling momentum meant that the indices constantly switched between the negative and positive zones.

A spurt of buying at the start of the afternoon session helped the index touch an intra-day high of 4,767.

The Sensex finally ended with a loss of 3 points at 4,736.

The Nifty ended 7 points lower at 1,475.

Reliance was down nearly a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 432. ITC gained Rs 3 to Rs 862 while HLL was up a rupee at Rs 128.50.  Infosys was up Rs 28 at Rs 5,376.

Satyam gained 2.2% (Rs 6) to Rs 293 while Wipro ended nearly 1% (Rs 11) lower at Rs 1,557.  MTNL zoomed 6% (Rs 7) to Rs 130 while Bhel was up Rs 3 at Rs 498.

SBI was up 2% (Rs 8) at Rs 424. ONGC plunged 3.3% (Rs 21) to Rs 622 while HPCL dropped 2.4% (Rs 8) to Rs 322.

Bharti Tele-Ventures and Hindalco advanced 2% each Rs 133 and Rs 962, respectively. Auto, cement and pharma counters ended on a mixed note on the bourses.

Sensex @ 1400 hrs

The indices is moving in a narrow range at the moment. After hitting a high of 4,767, the markets have pared some of their gains owing to profit-booking especially in the banking and PSU sectors.

After briefly venturing into the negative territory, the Sensex is now back in the green, up a point at 4,739. The Nifty is down 4 points at 1,478.

Reliance has pared some of its gains and is now up Rs 1.50 at Rs 436.50. ITC is up Rs 3 at Rs 861 while HLL is up a rupee at Rs 129.

Infosys is down Rs 18 at Rs 5,330. Satyam is up a percent (Rs 3) at Rs 290 while Wipro is down a percent (Rs 15.50) at Rs 1,553.  MTNL has zoomed 6 per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 130.50.

ONGC has dropped 2.4 per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 628 after the company announced a rather disappointing result for the year ended March 2004. HPCL has dropped 2 per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 323. SBI has pared most of its gains and is now up marginally at Rs 418.

Cipla has dropped nearly 4 per cent (Rs 8) to Rs 199 while Dr Reddy's is down 1.5 per cent (Rs 11.50) at Rs 722. Ranbaxy, however, is trading in the green with a gain of Rs 4.50 at Rs 882.50.

Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja are up a percent each at Rs 260 and Rs 932, respectively. ACC is up a rupee at Rs 232.  Hindalco has advanced a percent (Rs 9.50) to Rs 953. Zee Telefilms continues to reel under selling pressure and is down 4 per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 123.

Sensex @ 1300 hrs

The indices are steadily gaining ground as a result of all round buying. The Sensex is now up 21 points at 4,759, while the Nifty is up 5 points at 1,487.

Reliance and ITC are up a per cent each at Rs 439.50 and Rs 867, respectively. HLL has gained a rupee to Rs 129.

Infosys is down marginally (Rs 9) at Rs 5,339. Satyam is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 290 while Wipro is down nearly 1 per cent (Rs 10) at Rs 1,558.

MTNL has zoomed 5 per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 129 while SBI is up 2 per cent (Rs 8.50) at Rs 425. HPCL is down 2 per cent (Rs 6.50) at Rs 324 while ONGC is down 1 per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 637.

Bharti Tele-Ventures has zoomed 3 per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 135. Zee Telefilms has plunged nearly 4 per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 123.  Ranbaxy has pared some of its gains and is now up 1.5 per cent (Rs 13) at Rs 891. Cipla has dropped 2.3 per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 202.50 while Dr Reddy's is down 1.3 per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 723.

PSU scrips are down as a result of profit-booking in most counters. BPCL is down nearly 2 per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 347 while Container Corporation and Chennai Petro are down 2 per cent each at Rs 604 and Rs 106, respectively.

Shipping Corporation, National Fertilisers and Kochi Refineries are down a per cent each at Rs 92, Rs 35 and Rs 153, respectively.

Sensex @ 1130 hrs

The markets have changed its course after a brief profit-booking session in early trades. Buying has gained momentum on the indices. As a result, the Sensex is up 16 points at 4,755.

The Nifty is also up 4 points at 1,486.

Reliance is up nearly a percent (Rs 4) at Rs 438.50. ITC is up Rs 2 at Rs 860.50, while HLL is up marginally at Rs 128.  Infosys has given up most of its losses and is now down marginally (Rs 11) at Rs 5,337.

Satyam has advanced a per cent (Rs 3.50) to Rs 290, while Wipro is down Rs 9 at Rs 1,559. MTNL has zoomed 4.4 per cent (Rs 5.50) to Rs 129, while SBI has moved up nearly 2 per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 423.50.

HPCL has dipped 2 per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 323, while ONGC is still down nearly a per cent (Rs 4.50) at Rs 639. Bhel is unchanged at Rs 495.

Ranbaxy has zoomed 2 per cent (Rs 17) to Rs 895. Other pharma, auto and cement counters are trading on a mixed note. The selling spree among the bank scrips continues.

Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank have dropped 4 per cent each to Rs 148 and Rs 119, respectively. Oriental Bank has dropped 3 per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 224, while PNB is down 2 per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 251.50. IDBI Bank, is a sole exception as the stock has zoomed nearly 4 per cent to Rs 36.50.

Sensex @ 1015 hrs

The Sensex opened on a negative note with a gap of 6 points at 4,733. Continued selling pressure meant that the indices have slipped further into the red. The Sensex is down 18 points at 4,721.

The Nifty is also down 7 points at 1,475.

ITC is down Rs 5 at Rs 854. Reliance and HLL are unchanged at Rs 435 and Rs 128, respectively.

Infosys has opened a percent lower (Rs 42) at Rs 5,306. Satyam is up a rupee at Rs 288, while Wipro is down Rs 8.50 at Rs 1,560.

Bhel is down 1% (Rs 5) at Rs 490. MTNL has advanced 2% (Rs 2) to Rs 125.50 while SBI is up a percent (Rs 4) at Rs 420. ONGC is down Rs 5 at Rs 638.

Cement, pharma and auto counters are trading on a mixed note on the bourses in early trades.