Sensex ends up 12pts, HDFC gains 3%

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 58 points at 13,236, but selling pressure saw the index slip into negative zone in early trades.

Significant profit-taking in banking and technology stocks saw the index slip to a low of 13,075 - down 161 points from the day's open. Fresh buying in HDFC and FMCG stocks in late noon trades helped the index recoup the loss and rebound into positive zone. The Sensex finally ended on a flat note at 13,190 - up 12 points.

The FMCG index soared over 2% to 1813, and the Metal index surged 1% to 9000.

The market breadth was positive - out of 2,649 stocks traded, 1,575 advanced, 1,006 declined and 68 were unchanged today.

A MIXED BAG

HDFC soared over 3% to Rs 1,608. ITC surged nearly 3% to Rs 160, and HLL added 2.5% to Rs 209.

Tata Motors rallied 2.5% to Rs 721. HDFC Bank, Ranbaxy and Grasim advanced around 2% each to Rs 992, Rs 358 and Rs 2,235, respectively.

BHEL moved up 1.6% to Rs 2,463.

Satyam plunged 3.5% to Rs 445. Wipro shed 2.4% to Rs 548, and Infosys slipped 2.2% to Rs 1,998. TCS dropped 1.6% to Rs 1,197.

Dr.Reddy's, Bajaj Auto, NTPC and Larsen & Toubro were down around 1% each at Rs 720, Rs 2,270, Rs 158 and Rs 1,582, respectively.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Indiabulls topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 479.55 crore followed by Indiabulls Real Estate (Rs 221.50 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 167 crore), MindTree (Rs 147 crore) and Tata Motors (Rs 92 crore).

IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 1.88 crore shares followed by Indiabulls (96.25 lakh), Indiabulls Real Estate (78.80 lakh), Tele Data (39.60 lakh) and Himachal Futuristic (35.85 lakh).