Heavyweights cushion fall

STOCK REPORT

Shares ended almost flat as profit sales took indices off highs, after a choppy session on Thursday. Rise in heavyweights Reliance Industries, Hindustan Lever and Bharat Heavy Electricals prevented further losses.

Oil retailers ended down, while auto and capital goods were lead gainers. Indices had opened firm as tame US inflation data eased fears of hikes in key interest rates by Federal Reserve in September.

On Thursday, the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex closed at 11477.48, up 0.2 per cent or 29.17 points. Intraday, it moved between 11379.44 and 11551.59.

The National Stock Exchange Nifty closed 3353.90, down 0.1 per cent or 2.15 points.

Intraday, it moved between 3328.60 and 3385.15. Turnover on the both exchanges together was Rs 1,090 crore, up marginally from Wednesday.

Siemens India, up 4.4 per cent at Rs 1,053, Indian Petrochemicals, up 4.2 per cent at Rs 289, Dr Reddy's, up 2.4 per cent at Rs 1,489, and Tata Motors, up 2.4 per cent at Rs 837 were lead Nifty gainers.

Dr Reddy's was up on value buying and positive outlook, while Tata Motors extended gains on reports on Wednesday that it has bought Nissan Motor's South Africa truck assembly unit.

Reliance Energy, down 3.4 per cent at Rs 462.70, Tata Steel, down 2.6 per cent at Rs 518.65, and Hindalco Industries, down 2.6 per cent at Rs 164.70, were worst hit among Nifty companies. Mid-caps snapped their seven-session winning streak and ended with losses.

Thomas Cook India ended down 3.3 per cent at Rs 546 and Andhra Bank ended down 2.5 per cent at Rs 84.

CNX Midcap Index ended down 0.4 per cent, while S&P CNX 500 Index slipped 0.3 per cent. Rolta India ended up 4 per cent at Rs 219.45 after the company announced a 51:49 joint venture with Thales of France.

Bharati Shipyard, which had surged 4 per cent after it announced Rs 120 crore order from Reliance Industries, ended marginally up at Rs 324.70.