Sensex eases, Bharti jumps 4%

Resumption of selling pressure in heavyweights, tech, auto, pharma and other select old economy counters has pushed the index into the red. The Sensex is now down three points at 6,586. The Nifty has lost six points to 2,056.

Reliance has slipped into the red with a loss of Rs 2 at Rs 533. While ITC has inched lower by a per cent (Rs 9) to Rs 1,290, HLL is down a tad at Rs 144.

HDFC Bank has gained 1.23% (Rs 7) to Rs 565, and ICICI Bank is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 381. SBI is down a rupee at Rs 658.

Hero Honda has shed some gains on profit-taking to Rs 537 - up Rs 6 or 1.41%. Bajaj (up Rs 4 to Rs 1,042). Tata Motors and Maruti are down a per cent each at Rs 484 (down Rs 5) and Rs 470 (down Rs 4), respectively.

Infosys at Rs 2,162 (down Rs 8) and Wipro at Rs 691 (down Rs 6) are still exhibiting weak trends. Satyam is down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 405.

Dr. Reddy's and Cipla are down a per cent each at Rs 733 and Rs 272, respectively. Ranbaxy is also trading with a per cent loss (Rs 6) at Rs 1,033.

ONGC is trading with a steady gain of Rs 4 at Rs 813.

Bharti has soared 3.64% (Rs 8) to Rs 218 on fresh buying support. Hindalco is up 1.51% (Rs 21) at Rs 1,384. Tata Power, however, has slipped 1.37% (Rs 6) to Rs 413.