Sensex ends flat, Rel Cap gains 6%

The Sensex opened on a positive note at 8,255 - a gain of 33 points against the last close of 8,222. The index zoomed to a high of 8,327 in morning deals.

Profit-taking saw the index drift lower to touch a low of 8,122 - an intra-day swing of 205 points. After moving in a narrow range towards the closing bell, the Sensex was finally up a point at at 8,223.

The sectoral indices largely finished with gains today. The BSE Auto Index was up over a per cent (38 points) at 3,444. The BSE FMCG moved up 1.4% (21 points) at 1,515. The BSE Metal, Consumer Durables, MidCap and SmallCap indices also closed at higher levels today. The BSE Oil & Gas Index was down 10 points at 3,775.

Declines continued to be ahead of advances - out of 2,559 scrips traded, 1,631 declined, 905 advanced and 23 were unchanged today.

HLL was firm right through the session, and closed with a gain of over 3% (Rs 5) at Rs 170. ITC was up a rupee at Rs 138.

While Reliance dropped Rs 7 to Rs 748, ONGC declined Rs 6 to Rs 990. SBI was down  Rs 2 at Rs 890.

Infosys dropped Rs 13 to Rs 2,400, but TCS was up Rs 8 at Rs 1,411.

Grasim advanced over 3% (Rs 40) to Rs 1,350. ACC added Rs 7 to Rs 463.

Tata Motors gained over 2% (Rs 11) to Rs 511. Maruti and Hero Honda also finished with gains.

BHEL moved up Rs 13 to Rs 1,115. Bharti gained Rs 4 to Rs 339. ICICI Bank, which was weak through the session, finally closed with a gain of Rs 3 at Rs 576. Hindalco, Reliance Energy, Tata Power, Tata Steel and Wipro finished marginally higher today.

HDFC Bank was down 3.8% (Rs 26) to Rs 670. Cipla, Dr. Reddy's and Ranbaxy also declined.

Visualsoft zoomed over 13% to Rs 203. Apollo Hospitals advanced 8% to Rs 473. Reliance Capital gained over 6% to Rs 396. Atul, GHCL, JCT and Dishman Pharma finished with gains of 10-12%.

Reliance Capital was the most active counter with a turnover of over Rs 351 crore followed by Reliance (Rs 329 crore), FCS Software (Rs 288 crore), SBI (Rs 150 crore) and McDowell (Rs 79 crore).