Better-than-expected Q2 Infosys numbers set the stage for the Sensex to open higher, and the index did open with a huge positive gap of 83 points at 12,447. Significant gains in technology stocks, led by Infosys, saw the index flare up to a high of 12,514 - up 150 points from its previous close.Selling emerged in auto stocks in late morning deals, and soon spread to other sectors like cement, metal and pharma. Sustained selling in the stocks saw the index dip into negative zone in late noon deals.The index dropped to a low of 12,302 - down 212 points from the day's high. Some buying towards the close saw the index recover, and finally settle with a marginal loss of 10 points at 12,353.The BSE Mid-cap and Small-cap indices shed 1.3% each to 5231 and 6330, respectively.The BSE Metal index dropped 1.7% to 8489. The Auto, Capital Goods, Healthcare and PSU indices were down around 1.5% each at 5412, 8170, 3612 and 5794, respectively. The IT index, however, zoomed 3% to 4585.The market breadth was fairly negative - out of 2,564 stocks traded, 1,687 declined, 819 advanced and 58 were unchanged.INDEX MOVERS & SHAKERSBacked by over 50% jump in Q2 net profit plus an upward revision in FY07 guidance, Infosys opened with a positive gap of 3.5% (Rs 66) at Rs 1,972. The stock soon crossed the Rs 2,000-mark, and touched a high of Rs 2,024. Profit-taking at higher levels saw the stock pare gains, but still finish with a smart gain of 4% (Rs 75) at Rs 1,981.Hopes of good numbers by other technology firms boosted the tech sector. TCS soared over 3% to Rs 1,045. Satyam and Wipro were up nearly 2% each at Rs 415 and Rs 529, respectively.HDFC Bank advanced 2.8% to Rs 965. HDFC added 2% to Rs 1,443.Bharti Airtel gained 1% at Rs 473.Tata Motors dropped 3.4% to Rs 881. Gujarat Ambuja, Ranbaxy and Hindalco slipped around 2.5% each to Rs 120, Rs 413 and Rs 171, respectively.Tata Steel, SBI and Maruti shed 2% each to Rs 507, Rs 1,005 and Rs 934, respectively.Reliance Communications, ACC, Larsen & Toubro, HLL, ONGC, NTPC, Dr.Reddy's, ICICI Bank and Reliance Energy were down 1-2% each.VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERSInfosys topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 219.74 crore followed by Hindustan Zinc (Rs 183 crore), IDFC (Rs 163.75 crore), Atlanta (Rs 149.10 crore) and Reliance (Rs 142 crore).IDFC led the volume chart with trades of around 2.28 crore shares followed by Silverline Tech (1.95 crore), Facor Alloys (1.43 crore), Atlanta (52.26 lakh) and Tata Teleservices (50 lakh).
