The Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) stock zoomed in late afternoon trades on Thursday on sustained buying support, after reports that the company has struck gas in an exploration block off the Gujarat shore.
The stock ended as the biggest gainer among sensex stocks, up 2.59 per cent at Rs 296.65. A total of 29.77 lakh shares changed hands on the counter.
In 49 sessions between October 28, 2002, and January 8, 2003, RIL has jumped 32.6 per cent to Rs 289.15 from a 52-week low of Rs 218.05.
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The surge in the scrip was purely due to reports that the company has struck significant oil and gas reserves. Though dealers said the gas find is small, market players have reacted positively to the news.
Reports reveal that RIL has struck hydrocarbons in the first well it drilled in the GK-OSJ/1 block. Till date, no assessment of reserves has been done, but the gas production from the new find could be close to one million standard cubic metres per day.
The block is one of the five blocks RIL acquired from Tullow Oil of the UK for over one million pounds. The block is close to the four hydrocarbon discoveries Scottish explorer Cairn Energy Plc had made, of which Lakshmi Gas has started commercial production.
Quarterly numbers take sheen off Hughes Soft
Hughes Software Systems (HSS) was in the red on Thursday after the company announced dismal results for the third quarter ended December 2002.
The stock ended lower at Rs 197.20, down by 3.24 per cent. In late afternoon trades, the stock was down 0.6 per cent at Rs 202.50 on the BSE. The stock moved between Rs 207.70 and Rs 194.80. A total of 36.01 lakh shares changed hands on the BSE. The stock had surged sharply in the last few months.
For the third quarter ended December 2002, HSS posted a 21.3 per cent fall in net profit at Rs 11.40 crore. The company had added 7 clients in the third quarter.