Sensex ends up 87pts, Rel Energy gains 4%

The Sensex opened marginally higher at 14,415, and moved in a narrow range for most of the morning session. Profit-taking in noon deals saw the index drop to a low of 14,406. Buying in select scrips like Reliance Energy, SBI and BHEL saw the index hit a high of 14,526 towards the closing bell. The Sensex finally closed with a gain of 87 points (0.61%) at 14,499.

The BSE Capital Goods Index zoomed over 2% (237 points) to 11,737. The BSE Auto, Metal and PSU indices also finished on a strong note.

The broad market breadth was positive - out of 2,653 scrips traded, 1,437 logged gains and 1,132 declined today.

INDEX GAINERS & LOSERS

Reliance Energy zoomed over 4% (Rs 22) to Rs 560. L&T, which had gained close to 6% in intra-day deals, closed with a gain of nearly 4% (Rs 79) at Rs 2,107. BHEL gained 3.6% (Rs 52) to Rs 1,482.

SBI added over 1% to Rs 1,445. Hindalco, Reliance Communications and HDFC closed with gains of over 2% each today.

Hero Honda and Maruti declined 1% each to Rs 661 and Rs 761, respectively.

Oil scrips logged gains after the union cabinet approved a proposal by Lakshmi Mittal to take 49% stake in the Bhatinda refinery being planned with HPCL.

HPCL gained close to 4% at Rs 273. BPCL was up over 4% at Rs 348. IOC and Chennai Petro also closed with gains.

MOST ACTIVE COUNTERS

Time Technoplast was the most active counter with a turnover of Rs 329 crore followed by Divi's Lab (Rs 222 crore), L&T (Rs 145 crore), SBI (Rs 116 crore) and Educomp (Rs 108 crore).