The ICICI scrip hogged the limelight on the Bombay Stock Exchange yesterday, recording a gain of Rs 6.75 or nearly 7.5 per cent over the previous close. The scrip closed at Rs 93 and recorded trading volumes of 9.25 lakh shares.
Marketmen said that, with disbursements of ICICI increasing by about 21 per cent, there were high expectations about its first half performance. The market moved up towards the close mainly on short covering. Marketmen said there was some short selling following the news of the phone tapping case. But, with no sales coming in from the institutions, speculators had to cover up their positions towards the close.
The Infosys scrip was the major loser of the day in the B1 group even as other software scrips continued their ascent. Marketmen said that FIIs were selling Infosys shares through the screen.
More From This Section
The SAIL scrip continued to edge up on sustained buying interest.
The scrip closed at Rs 16, with 1.95 lakh shares worth Rs 30.95 lakh changing hands.
The BSE yesterday informed its members that the FII limit in the Mahavir Spinning scrip had fallen below the 20 per cent limit following increase in its paid up capital. The scrip, however, failed to react to the news and moved in a narrow range to close at Rs 58.50, down Rs 3.25 over the previous close.
B1 scrips continued to be left out in the cold with as many as 50 scrips touching new 52-week lows during intra day trading.
The Dr Reddys Laboratories scrip witnessed strong buying interest with 1.04 lakh shares being traded. The scrip moved up by Rs 11 to close at Rs 302.75.
The Smithkline Beecham Pharmaceuticals scrip witnessed sharp volatility with the scrip touching a new 52-week high of Rs 475. It, however, later fell sharply to close at Rs 437.