The markets displayed volatility with the Sensex clocking a high of 6,587 and a low of 6,509. The index failed to hold gains, and finally ended three points lower at 6,553 following weakness in pharma, tech and auto stocks. The Nifty, however, was up two points at 2,060.While 22 Sensex stocks declined, eight advanced today. Advancing shares accounted for a volume of 99 lakh for Rs 518.95 crore, and declining shares registered a volume of 1.84 crore amounting to Rs 881.18 crore.The breadth of the market was weak with 1,233 losers and 1,112 gainers on the BSE.Pharma pivotals lost ground owing to strong selling pressure. Dr. Reddy's shed 3.71% (Rs 27) to Rs 709. While Ranbaxy declined 1.31% (Rs 14) to Rs 1,071, Cipla was down 1.19% (Rs 3) at Rs 283.ITC ended down a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,350. Infosys (down Rs 4 to Rs 2,064), Wipro (down Rs 10 to Rs 695) and Satyam (down Rs 6 to Rs 408) ended at lower levels.SBI lost 1.35% (Rs 9) to Rs 634. HDFC Bank was down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 561. ICICI Bank, however, ended with a rupee gain at Rs 362.Tata Motors dropped 2.30% (Rs 12) to Rs 493. While Hero Honda dipped 1.63% (Rs 9) to Rs 528, Maruti was down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 449. Bajaj, however, bucked the downtrend and was up a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 1,044.Bharti edged lower towards the late noon trades and dropped 3.47% (Rs 8) to Rs 222. L&T lost 1.86% (Rs 19) to Rs 987.HLL, on volumes of over 23.14 lakh, attracted considerable buying support and shot up 5.60% (Rs 9) to Rs 169. While Reliance, with a traded volume of over 51.41 lakh, gained 1.87% (Rs 10) to Rs 543, ONGC finished at Rs 821 - up Rs 2. Hindalco scaled up 2.38% (Rs 31) to Rs 1,331. While Reliance Energy moved up 1.83% (Rs 10) to Rs 561, BHEL was up a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 757.Crompton Greaves advanced 7% (Rs 19) to Rs 297 and Indian Rayon moved up 6.88% (Rs 28) to Rs 439. While Apollo Hospital jumped 6.83% to Rs 277, D-Link moved up 5.59% to Rs 133. Nicholas Piramal and Chambal Fertilisers jumped 5% each at Rs 279 and Rs 31, respectively. Nirma, EIH and Jindal Stainless were up in a range of 4-5%.Birla Corporation dropped 4.77% (Rs 9) to Rs 184. While Bombay Dyeing slipped 4.37% to Rs 202, IDBI lost 4.10% to Rs 105. P&J, Balaji Tele, Aventis Pharma, Hexaware and Hinduja TMT was down in a range of 3-4%.Sail, with a traded volume of over 1.84 crore on the BSE, ended higher at Rs 65. NTPC, which clocked a volume of over 1.9 crore, rose 3.13% to Rs 89.Reliance led the value chart with a turnover of Rs 278 crore, followed by Infosys (Rs 150 crore), ONGC (Rs 132 crore) and Satyam (Rs 119 crore), respectively.
