The Sensex opened 12 points lower at 5,527, it slipped a bit, but then soon rebounded into positive zone owing to selective buying.

Fresh buying in index heavyweights - mainly Infosys and ITC - saw the index move steadily to higher levels.

The markets were very lacklusture for the major part of the noon session, as the NSE was closed from 11.25 am to 12.05 pm due to sun outage.  Late noon deals saw the focus shifting from Infosys and ITC towards Reliance which led the index rally to an intra-day high of 5,575.

However, profit taking towards the closing bell saw the index shed all gains and slip back into negative zone.

The selling was so intense that the index declined to a low of 5,514 - down 61 points from the intra-day high. The Sensex finally settled with a loss of 12 points at 5,528. Thus the index today ended its month-long rally which had started on August 27.  The Nifty ended three points lower at 1,723.

While 16 Sensex stocks declined, 14 advanced today. Declining shares registered a volume of 1.03 crore for Rs 485.47 crore, and advancing shares accounted for a volume of 1.23 crore amounting to Rs 444.25 crore.  ITC declined Rs 9 to Rs 1,152, and Reliance ended Rs 2 lower at Rs 499. HLL was unchanged at Rs 120.

Wipro slumped 2% (Rs 11) to Rs 582. Infosys was down a per cent (Rs 17) at Rs 1,614. Satyam ended marginally lower at Rs 372.  ICICI Bank advanced over a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 292. HDFC Bank and SBI declined over a per cent each to Rs 405 and Rs 478, respectively.

HPCL and ONGC gained Rs 2 each at Rs 321 and Rs 739, respectively.  Bhel declined 1.3% (Rs 8) to Rs 578. HDFC slumped 1.6% (Rs 10) to Rs 615.  Bajaj Auto rallied 2% (Rs 21) to Rs 992, and Maruti gained 1.6% (Rs 6) at Rs 369.

While Tata Motors was up a rupee at Rs 412, Hero Honda slipped Rs 3 to Rs 443.  Gujarat Ambuja and Grasim shed 2% each to Rs 336 and Rs 1,120, respectively. ACC was down Rs 2 at Rs 270.  Ranbaxy gained Rs 8 at Rs 1,116. While Cipla spurted Rs 5 to Rs 286, Dr.Reddy's gained Rs 2 at Rs 752.

Hindalco moved up Rs 5 to Rs 1,260, and Tisco ended Rs 2 higher at Rs 289.  While Tata Power rallied a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 315, Reliance Energy slipped Rs 3 to Rs 636.  Zee dropped 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 150, and MTNL was down a rupee at Rs 126.

Bharti Tele, however, ended a per cent higher at Rs 150.  Indiabulls, which made its debut today, moved in a range of Rs 27 - Rs 23 before finally settling at Rs 24 - a premium of 26% to the offer price of Rs 19. The scrip clocked a hefty volume of around 1.7 crore shares on the NSE.

Crew B.O.S was a major gainer on listing today - the scrip closed with a huge premium of 34% at Rs 47. The stock touched an intra-day high of Rs 49 and a low of Rs 37. The counter clocked a volume of around 82.43 lakh shares on the NSE.

Sah Petroleum also made its debut today. The scrip touched a high of Rs 44 and a low of Rs 33 before closing at Rs 34 - a discount of 3% to its offer price. The scrip recorded trades of around 23.54 lakh shares on the NSE.

The BSE Health Care index rallied 1.3% to 2,567. While the BSE Auto and Metal indices ended marginally higher at 2,362 and 4,885, respectively, the BSE TECk and FMCG indices were marginally down at 1,396 and 916, respectively.

The news that Gujarat goverment intends to sell stake in state owned companies boosted the stock prices of those companies. Gujarat Narmada zoomed nearly 9% (Rs 5) to Rs 59, GMDC rallied 7.5% to Rs 18.50 and Gujarat Ind Power rallied 6% to Rs 63.

Ispat Industries, India Cements, BEML, Wockhardt Life, Torrent Pharma, ING Vysya Bank, Titan, Mastek, Fertilizers & Chemicals, Ramco System, Abbott India, CMC, FDC and Birla Corp rallied 4-7% each.

Sterling Biotech and IBP slumped over 4% each to Rs 140 and Rs 563, respectively. Apollo Tyre, Canara Bank, Gillette India, Kotak Bank, Tamilnadu Newsprint, Bank of India, J&K Bank and i-flex declined 1-2% each.

SAIL topped the volume chart with a combined (BSE+NSE) volume of around 5.09 crore shares. It was followed by Ispat Industries (1.89 crore), Tisco (1.15 crore), Maruti (1.06 crore) and Reliance (85.40 lakh).

Reliance topped the value chart with a combined turnover of Rs 427.64 crore followed by Maruti (Rs 390.52 crore), Tisco (Rs 333.50 crore), Infosys (Rs 290.98 crore) and Tata Motors (Rs 284.36 crore).

Rollover continues in Nifty futures

The Nifty September futures ended at a marginal discount of two points when compared to the spot Nifty at 1,721. While the October Nifty futures closed at 1,715, the November Nifty futures finished at 1,711.

The total turnover of the NSE F&O stood at Rs 10,198.41 crore from 3,26,968 contracts traded today.  While the index futures clocked a volume 99,266 contracts amounting to Rs 3,418.43 crore, stock futures registered a volume of 1,94,277 contracts amounting to Rs 5,709.89 crore.

Index options recorded a volume of around 11,883 contracts amounting to Rs 411.89 crore. The stock options saw trades of 21,542 contracts amounting to Rs 658.20 crore.

The Nifty September futures was the most active contract, and the open interest (OI) declined 6,15,000 followed by Reliance (OI down 5,16,600), Tisco (down 7,76,250), Nifty October series (up 11,25,400), and Tata Motors (down 5,04,075).

Most active calls - Nifty 1,750, Nifty 1,730, Tisco 290, Reliance 500 and Tata Motors 420.  Most active puts - Nifty 1,700, Nifty 1,730, Nifty 1,750, Nifty 1,720 and Reliance 500.

(Active futures, calls and puts are as per contract value and of the September series unless mentioned otherwise).

Sensex @ 1500 hrs

The Sensex has erased most of its gains, but is still up six points at 5,545. The Nifty is up two points at 1,728.

Reliance has erased most of its gains and is now up a rupee at Rs 502. ITC is down Rs 3 at Rs 1,159, and HLL is unchanged at Rs 120.

Infosys has slipped into negative zone and is now down Rs 11 at Rs 1,619. Wipro has declined 1.5% (Rs 9) to Rs 584. Satyam is down a rupee at Rs 372.

Cement stocks are also under selling pressure. Gujarat Ambuja has slumped 2% (Rs 7) to Rs 337. Grasim has shed a per cent (Rs 12) to Rs 1,128. ACC is down Rs 2 at Rs 270.

ICICI Bank is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 291. HDFC Bank and SBI have extended losses at Rs 404 and Rs 479, respectively.

HDFC is down 1.6% (Rs 10) to Rs 615.  Zee has declined Rs 2 to Rs 151.

Sensex @ 1430 hrs

The Sensex has moved up 30 points to 5,570. The Nifty is at 1,735, up 9 points.

Reliance has rallied a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 505. ITC is up Rs 2 at Rs 1,163, and HLL is steady at Rs 121. 

Infosys is up Rs 9 at Rs 1,636. While Satyam is up Rs 2 at Rs 375, Wipro is down Rs 3 at Rs 590. 

Tata Motors has pared some gains and is now up Rs 6 at Rs 416. Maruti and Bajaj Auto have extended gains to Rs 370 and Rs 991, respectively. Hero Honda has slipped Rs 2 to Rs 444. 

Cipla and Ranbaxy have gaind Rs 7 each at Rs 288 and Rs 1,114, respectively. Dr Reddy's is up Rs 5 at Rs 756.

While ICICI Bank has advanced over a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 292, HDFC Bank has declined over a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 404. SBI is steady at Rs 485. 

ONGC has moved up Rs 7 to Rs 743, and HPCL is up Rs 2 at Rs 321.

Sensex @ 1345 hrs

The Sensex is moving in a narrow range of 10-15 points, which has seen the markets turn lacklusture during the last one hour or so of the trading day. The index is now up 23 points at 5,563.

The Nifty is at 1,736, up 10 points.

Reliance has rebounded into positive zone and is now up Rs 2 at Rs 503.

ITC has pared most of its gains, and is now up Rs 5 at Rs 1,166. HLL is steady at Rs 121.

ONGC is steady at Rs 742, and HPCL is up Rs 2 at Rs 320.

Auto stocks are trading firm. Maruti and Tata Motors have gained 2% each at Rs 371 and Rs 418, respectively. Bajaj Auto has moved up 1.7% (Rs 16) to Rs 987.

Sensex up 27pts; pharma scrips firm

The Sensex rallied to a high of 5,568, and is now up 27 points at 5,566. The Nifty is at 1,733, up 7 points.

Pharma stocks are ruling firm. Ranbaxy is up Rs 9 at Rs 1,117. Cipla and Dr. Reddy's have gained Rs 7 each at Rs 288 and Rs 757, respectively.

ITC has pared some gains and is now up Rs 8 at Rs 1,170. While HLL is up a rupee at Rs 121, Reliance is trading flat at Rs 500.

Infosys is steady at Rs 1,641. While Satyam has moved up Rs 3 to Rs 376, Wipro has erased most of its losses but is still down a rupee at Rs 592.

Tata Motors is firm with a gain of 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 418. Maruti and Bajaj Auto are also firm Rs 369 and Rs 983, respectively. Hero Honda is weak at Rs 445.

Hindalco is firm at Rs 1,263, and Tisco has spurted a per cent (Rs 3) to Rs 291.

Auto stocks drive Sensex

Fresh buying in auto stocks saw the Sensex rally to an intra-day high of 5,559. The index is now at the same higher levels, up 19 points.

The Nifty is at 1,733, up seven points.

Auto stocks have zoomed on fresh buying. Tata Motors has rallied 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 418. Maruti is up 1.6% (Rs 6) to Rs 369, and Bajaj Auto has gained 1.3% (Rs 12) at Rs 983. However, Hero Honda still languishing in negative zone at Rs 445. 

ITC is up a per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 1,172. While Reliance is down Rs 2 at Rs 498, HLL is up a rupee at Rs 121. 

Infosys and Wipro are steady at Rs 1,645 and Rs 591, respectively. Satyam has moved up Rs 3 to Rs 375.

Hindalco has gained Rs 9 at Rs 1,265, and Tisco is up a rupee at Rs 289.  SAIL has topped the volume chart on the BSE, and the counter has clocked a volume of around 39.93 lakh shares so far. Ispat Industries (24.43 lakh), India Cements (13.48 lakh), Maruti (11.40 lakh) and Tata Motors (9.20 lakh). 

Maruti tops the value chart with a turnover of Rs 41.74 crore so far on the BSE. It is followed by Tata Motors (Rs 38.13 crore), Reliance (Rs 34.68 crore), Tisco (Rs 24.32 crore) and SBI (Rs 23.67 crore).

Debutants witness a mixed outing

The Sensex slipped to an new intra-day low of 5,517, and is now down 17 points at 5,522. The Nifty has slipped seven points at 1,719.

Indiabulls made its debut on Friday. The stock opened at Rs 25 a premium of 32% to its offer price. The scrip then inched higher to an intra-day high of Rs 27, before slipping to an intra-day low of Rs 23.

The stock is currently trading around the day's low at Rs 23 with a hefty volume of around 50 lakh shares so far on the NSE.

Sah Petroleums debuted at a 26% premium at Rs 44, but then it kept on slipping to lower levels.

The scrip is currently trading at Rs 34 - a discount of Re 1 to its offer price, with a volume of around 44,400 shares so far on the NSE.

Crew B.O.S is the third stock to be listed on Friday. The stock opened at a marginal premium of 4% at Rs 36.50. But, then unlike the other two, it kept on moving higher, and is now trading at a premium of 7% at Rs 37.50.

The scrip has seen trades of around 5.30 lakh shares so far on the NSE.

Among the Sensex stocks. Reliance has declined a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 495. ITC is down Rs 2 at Rs 1,159, and HLL is down a rupee at Rs 119.  While Infosys has moved up Rs 7 to Rs 1,637, Wipro has moved down Rs 8 to Rs 585. Satyam, however, is steady at Rs 374.

HDFC has declined a per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 618.

Power stocks are witnessing profit-taking. Tata Power and Reliance Energy has slipped over a per cent each to Rs 307 and Rs 631, respectively.

Sensex @ 1200 hrs

Fresh buying in select index heavyweights helped the Sensex bounce back into positive zone. The index is now up eight points at 5,547.

The Nifty has gained two points at 1,728.

ITC is witnessing fresh buying. The scrip has rebounded into positive zone and is up Rs 10 at Rs 1,171.

Reliance has erased some losses but is still down Rs 3 at Rs 497. HLL is trading flat at Rs 120. 

Infosys has rallied a per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 1,645. While Satyam is up Rs 2 at Rs 374, Wipro is down Rs 3 at Rs 590. 

Pharma stocks are in demand. Cipla has spurted over 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 288, and Dr.Reddy's is up a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 758. Ranbaxy has gained Rs 7 at Rs 1,114. 

ONGC is up Rs 4 at Rs 741, and HPCL is down Rs 2 at Rs 316.  ICICI Bank has declined a per cent (Rs 3) to Rs 286. HDFC Bank is down Rs 3 at Rs 407, and SBI is down Rs 2 to Rs 481. 

HDFC has declined a per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 618. 

Hindalco is up Rs 8 at Rs 1,263, and Tisco is unchanged at Rs 288.  Bajaj Auto has gained Rs 5 at Rs 976. Tata Motors is up Rs 4 at Rs 414, and Maruti has moved up Rs 3 to Rs 366. Hero Honda, however, is down Rs 2 to Rs 444.  Zee is trading flat at Rs 153.  The Health Care index has gained 1.3% at 2,570.

The BSE TECk, Auto, FMCG and Metal indices have posted marginal gains at 1,410, 2,357, 924 and 4,885, respectively.

The BSE BANKEX has declined to 2,747.  Ispat Industries, Fertilizers & Chemicals, India Cements, Abbott India, Gujarat Narmada, Lupin, HMT, Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma, Federal Bank, Orchid Chemicals, Jaiprakash Associates, JB Chemicals, Raymond, Maharashtra Seamless, Ramco System and Hinduja TMT are up 2-5% each.

IBP has plunged nearly 5% (Rs 29) to Rs 559. BPCL, Canara Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bharat Electricals, Thermax, Bombay Dyeing, Arvind Mills and Asain Paints are down 1-2% each.

(Please Note: Presently the NSE is closed due to sun outage. The trading will begin at 12.05 noon. These timing will be followed till October 9.)

Sensex @ 1015 hrs

The Sensex opened 12 points lower at 5,527, it soon slipped to touch an intra-day low of 5,522.

However, fresh buying at lower levels saw the index rebound into positive zone and climb to an intra-day high of 5,551.

The Sensex has now again slipped back into negative zone and is down two points at 5,537.

The Nifty is down a point at 1,725.

Reliance is down Rs 2 at Rs 499, and ITC has shed Rs 3 at Rs 1,158.

HLL is unchanged at Rs 120.  Infosys is up Rs 4 at Rs 1,634, and Satyam has gained a rupee at Rs 373. Wipro, however, is down Rs 3 at Rs 590.

Hindalco has spurted a per cent (Rs 14) to Rs 1,270.