The Sensex closed 12 points lower at 5,199. The Nifty was down seven points at 1,628.

Technology stocks were the flavor of the day. Satyam rallied over 3% (Rs 11) to Rs 350. Infosys advanced 1.4% (Rs 23) to Rs 1,603. Wipro, however, finished marginally higher at Rs 578. 

Reliance and ITC shed 0.7% each at Rs 472 and Rs 1,039, respectively. HLL was steady at Rs 112.  ICICI Bank declined over 3% (Rs 9) to Rs 262. However, HDFC Bank was up Rs 3 at Rs 371, and SBI ended a rupee higher at Rs 452. 

ONGC and HPCL slipped over a per cent each to Rs 705 and Rs 316, respectively.  Auto stocks witnessed profit-taking during the later part of the trading day. Tata Motors declined 1.6% (Rs 6) to Rs 386.

While Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda were marginally down at Rs 928 and Rs 444, respectively, Maruti closed unchanged at Rs 388.

Sensex @ 1500 hrs

Fresh selling pressure - mainly at the Reliance and ITC counter - has dragged the Sensex into negative zone. The index is now down eight points at 5,203. The Nifty is at 1,631 - down four points. 

While Satyam continues to extend gains, and is now up 3.7% (Rs 13) at Rs 352. Infosys and Wipro have pared some gains and are now trading at Rs 1,603 and Rs 581, respectively.  Reliance is down Rs 2 to Rs 473. ITC has shed a per cent (Rs 11) to Rs 1,036.

HLL, however, continues to remain steady at Rs 112.  ICICI Bank has dropped 3% (Rs 8) to Rs 262. However, HDFC Bank and SBI are in positive zone at Rs 371 and Rs 453, respectively.  Hindalco has dropped a per cent (Rs 10) to Rs 1,173.  Tata Motors has slipped over a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 388. Bajaj Auto has declined Rs 5 to Rs 928.

While Hero Honda is down Rs 2 at Rs 445, Maruti is flat at Rs 389.  The BSE TECk index is firm at 1,361. The BSE BANKEX is down a per cent to 2,539, and the BSE Auto, PSU and FMCG indices are also fast losing ground at 2,266, 3,333 and 846, respectively. 

Power Trading tops the volumes chart on the BSE with a volume of around 47 lakh shares followed by SAIL (42.59 lakh), Satyam (30 lakh), IDBI (22.25 lakh) and Maruti (18.65 lakh) have also logged good volumes. 

Satyam tops the value chart with a turnover of Rs 103.83 crore on the BSE. It is followed by TCS (Rs 84.49 crore), Maruti (Rs 72.71 crore), SBI (Rs 67.38 crore) and Infosys (Rs 62.45 crore).

Sensex @ 1400 hrs

The Sensex is steady at 5,222, up 11 points, and the Nifty is up two points at 1,637.

Satyam has zoomed nearly 4% (Rs 13) to Rs 352. Infosys and Wipro are steady at Rs 1,605 and Rs 584, respectively.

ICICI Bank has declined nearly 3% (Rs 7) to Rs 1,038. However, SBI and HDFC Bank are up around a per cent each at Rs 455 and Rs 371, respectively.

ONGC has slipped a per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 708, and HPCL is down a rupee at Rs 318.  Hindalco has dropped a per cent (Rs 11) to Rs 1,172, and Tisco is up a rupee at Rs 251.

While Maruti is up a per cent at Rs 392. Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda and Tata Motors are marginally down at Rs 929, Rs 447 and Rs 391, respectively.

Grasim has spurted 1.6% (Rs 18) to Rs 1,153. Gujarat Ambuja is up a rupee at Rs 334, and ACC is flat at Rs 271.  Bhel and Dr.Reddy's have gained a per cent at Rs 571 and Rs 708, respectively.  While Tata Power has rallied over 3% (Rs 8) to Rs 273, Reliance Energy is down Rs 2 at Rs 645.  Zee is firm at Rs 154.

MphasiS BFL has zoomed over 9% (Rs 25) to Rs 300. VisualSoft, Mirc Electronics, Alfa Laval, Birla Corp, IDBI, Container Corp, IBP, Finolex Cables, Bank of India, Jindal Iron & Steel, Abbott India, UTI Bank, Syndicate Bank, Hexaware and GTL have rallied 2-4% each.

Wyeth, Engineers India, Balaji Tele, Jaiprakash Associates, Ballarpur Inds, Corporation Bank, Reliance Capital, Castrol, Bombay Dyeing, Siemens, National Fert, Videocon Intl, Asahi India, India Cements, Essel Propack, Dredging, Tamilnadu Newsprint and BASF India are down 1-3% each.

Sensex @ 1300 hrs

The Sensex rebounded into positive zone and moved to a high of 5,228 owing to fresh buying at lower levels. The index is now up 13 points at at 5,224.

The Nifty is up four points at 1,639.

Technology stocks are ruling firm. Infosys is up 2% (Rs 30) at Rs 1,610. Satyam has moved up 2.5% (Rs 10) to Rs 349, and Wipro is up a a per cent at Rs 582.

Reliance and HLL are trading flat at Rs 476 and Rs 112. ITC is marginally down at Rs 1,044.

ICICI Bank is down 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 265. However, SBI has rebounded into positive territory and is up a rupee at Rs 451. HDFC Bank has gained Rs 2 at Rs 370.

ONGC has recovered partailly and is now down Rs 7 at Rs 708. HPCL is flat at Rs 320.  Hindalco has surged Rs 9 to Rs 1,192, and Tisco is up Rs 2 at Rs 251.

Maruti has rallied 1.4% (Rs 5) to Rs 394. Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda and Tata Motors are rebounded into positive zones and are marginally up at Rs 937, Rs 448 and Rs 393, respectively.

Cement stocks are also witnessing fresh buying. ACC, Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja are trading flat at Rs 271, Rs 1,137 and Rs 332, respectively.

While Tata Power has rallied 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 270, Reliance Energy is down Rs 2 at Rs 645.  Zee is up over 3% (Rs 5) at Rs 154.

The BSE TECk index has rallied 1.8% to 1,364. The BSE BANKEX is down 0.5% at 2,553.   Abbott India, Birla Corp, MphasiS BFL, Jindal Iron & Steel, IDBI, Mirc Electronics, IDBI Bank, Federal Bank, VisualSoft, GTL, Dabur, Raymond, Syndicate, Gujarat Narmada, Neyvelli Lignite, IndusInd Bank and Bank of India are up 2-5% each.

Engineers India, Exide, ICICI Bank, Corporation Bank, Ramco System, Essel Propack, Dredging, Britannia, Novartis, Ballarpur Inds, Balaji Tele, Bharat Forge, Century Enka, Thermax, TVS Motor and BASF India are down 1-3% each.

Sensex @ 1100 hrs

The Sensex has recovered most of its losses - mainly due to heavy buying in technology stocks, but is still in red. The index is now down 4 points at 5,207.

The Nifty is at 1,632, down three points.

Technology stocks have surged on heavy buying. Satyam zoomed 2.4% (Rs 8) to Rs 347 with a volume of nearly nine lakh shares so far on the BSE.

Infosys is up 1.7% (Rs 26) at Rs 1,607, and the counter has clocked a volume of around 1.7 lakh shares. Wipro has gained a per cent at Rs 582.

Reliance is down Rs 2 at Rs 474. ITC has declined Rs 8 at Rs 1,039, and HLL has lost a rupee at Rs 112.  ICICI Bank has declined over 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 265, and SBI has dropped Rs 3 to Rs 448.

HDFC Bank, however, is up a rupee at Rs 369.  ONGC has plunged nearly 2% (Rs 13) to Rs 701. HPCL is marginally down at Rs 319.  While Maruti has gained Rs 3 each at Rs 391, Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda and Tata Motors are in the negative zones owing to profit-taking at Rs 932, Rs 446 and Rs 391, respectively.

Cement stocks, too, have crumbled on profit booking. Grasim has shed Rs 5 to Rs 1,130. Gujarat Ambuja ahs declined Rs 3 at Rs 330, and ACC is down a rupee at Rs 270.  Dr.Reddy's has gained Rs 6 at Rs 707. While Cipla and Ranbaxy have slipped at Rs 238 and Rs 970, respectively.

HDFC has fallen dropped over a pre cent (Rs 7) to Rs 555.  Zee has zoomed 4% (Rs 6) to Rs 155. Bhel and Bharti Tele have gained a rupee each at Rs 566 and Rs 138, respectively.

The BSE TECk index has rallied 1.5% to 1,360. The BSE BANKEX has dropped a per cent to 2,540. While the PSU and FMCG indices are in red at 3,330 and 846, respectively, the BSE Auto index is almost flat at 2,279.

Sensex @ 1005 hrs

The Sensex opened eight points higher at 5,219. It moved to a high of 5,223, but soon slipped into negaive zone to touch a low of 5,190.

The index is now at 5,192, down 19 points. The Nifty has shed 7 points at 1,628.

Technology stocks have posted smart gains in the early morning deals.

Infosys has gained 1.8% (Rs 28) at Rs 1,608. Satyam is up 1.5% (Rs 5) at Rs 344, and Wipro have advanced Rs 4 to Rs 580.

Auto, cement and PSU stocks are witnessing profit-taking following Wednesday's smart rally.