Sensex range-bound

Lack of fresh buying in most of the counters, coupled with weakness in cement and auto stocks, has seen the index display a range-bound trend in the afternoon trades. While the Sensex is up 27 points at 6,876, the Nifty remains unchanged with a gain of nine points at 2,157.

ONGC is trading on a higher note at Rs 906 (up Rs 16 or 1.775), while Reliance has gained 1.37% (Rs 8) at Rs 580.

SBI has added 1.12% (Rs 8) to Rs 721. While HDFC Bank is trading higher with a gain of 2% (Rs 12) at Rs 598, ICICI Bank is still up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 400.

Infosys (up Rs 4 to Rs 2,237) and Satyam (up Rs 4 to Rs 406) are trading with steady gains. Wipro, however, is lacklustre at Rs 716 - down Rs 5.

Hindalco (up Rs 8 to Rs 1,411), HDFC (up Rs 13 or 1.63% to Rs 800) and Reliance Energy (up Rs 7 to Rs 572) are trading off-highs due to profit-taking.

While HLL is subdued with a loss of 1.97% (Rs 3) at Rs 147, ITC is trading weaker by Rs 3 at Rs 1,368.

Grasim has slipped a per cent (Rs 13) to Rs 1,359. Other cement majors are also trading at lower levels.

Bharti is down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 233, while Zee has lost 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 143.