Cement stocks perk up, Sensex off-highs

The Sensex has slipped below the 6,500 mark after a sharp rally in the opening bell. Profit-taking in most of the counters has seen the Sensex shed most of its gains in current trades, and is now up 20 points at 6,485. The Nifty, too, has come off its early highs with a gain of four points at 2,029.

ITC has added Rs 7 to Rs 1,409. Reliance and HLL are marginally up at Rs 549 and Rs 133, respectively. ONGC, however, is exhibiting weakness at Rs 880 - down Rs 4.

HDFC Bank has clocked 2% gains (Rs 11) to Rs 570. SBI and ICICI Bank are trading with per cent gains each at Rs 650 and Rs 412, respectively.

Gujarat Ambuja has soared 7.65% (Rs 31) to Rs 437. While Grasim has added 1.23% (Rs 15) to Rs 1,215, ACC is up 1.23% (Rs 4) at Rs 367.

HPCL at Rs 328 (up Rs 5 or 1.47%) and L&T at Rs 974 (up Rs 7) are trading off-highs on profit-taking. Tisco, however, is down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 386.

Infosys is down Rs 5 at Rs 2,113, after a steady positive opening. While Satyam is down a rupee at Rs 408, Wipro is up Rs 4 at Rs 649.

Bajaj, after resuming in the green, has eased to Rs 1,072 - down Rs 8. Hero Honda (down Rs 4 to Rs 522) and Tata Motors (down Rs 2 to Rs 418) are also trading at lower levels.

Capital goods stocks have firmed up on strong buying support. Alstom has surged 6.40% (Rs 8) to Rs 140, and Nelco has added 5.45% (Rs 2) to Rs 43. While BEML has gained 3.65% (Rs 18) to Rs 521, Alstra Micro is up 2.29% (Rs 32) at Rs 1,418. KSB Pumps is up 2% at Rs 260.