Sensex ends down 13pts, HDFC Bank gains 2%

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 34 points at 13,893. Fresh buying in opening trades saw the index rally to a high of 13,960 - up 101 points from the previous close.

Profit-taking at higher levels saw the index pare gains and slip into negative zone in morning trades. The index rebounded soon after, and moved in a narrow, positive range for most of the trading day.

The index slipped to a low of 13,820 towards the closing bell before finally settling at 13,846 - down 13 points.

The BSE Mid-cap, Small-cap and sectoral indices, too, ended on a flat note today.

The market breadth was marginally negative - out of 2,706 stocks traded, 1,385 declined, 1,255 advanced and 66 were unchanged today.

INDEX MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hero Honda and HDFC Bank rallied 2% to Rs 759 and Rs 1,079, respectively.

Gujarat Ambuja and TCS advanced over 1% each to Rs 144 and Rs 1,209, respectively.

Hindalco, Grasim and ITC were the other notable gainers today.

Cipla shed 2.5% to Rs 253. Reliance and SBI slipped over 1% each to Rs 1,277 and Rs 1236, respectively.

Tata Steel, Dr.Reddy's, NTPC, Ranbaxy, BHEL and Bajaj Auto were the other prominent losers.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Tech Mahindra topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 319.20 crore followed by Indiabulls (Rs 217.90 crore), Reliance (Rs 169.70 crore), debutant Ess Dee Aluminium (Rs 151 crore) and Reliance Communications (Rs 132.55 crore).

Ess Dee Aluminium led the volume chart with trades of around 61.70 lakh shares followed by IKF Technologies (52.25 lakh), Pentium Infotech (39.60 lakh), Reliance Natural Resources (37 lakh) and XL Telecom (34.40 lakh).