Sensex up 62pts at 12,071, HLL gains 3%

The Sensex opened with a negative gap of four points at 12,006, but zoomed to a high of 12,115 in the morning session.

The index then lost momentum, and exhibited range-bound movement for the rest of the day. While FMCG and pharma stocks were in demand, metal and oil & gas scrips witnessed selling pressure today.

The Sensex finally settled with a gain of 62 points at 12,071. The index has thus gained 4.5% (520 points) in the last five trading sessions following last Monday's drop of 368 points.

The BSE FMCG index rallied over 2% to 2053, and the Healthcare index added 1% to 3636. The Metal index was down 1% at 8145.

The market breadth was positive - out of 2,568 scrips traded, 1,286 advanced, 1,199 declined and 83 were unchanged today.

SENSEX MOVERS & SHAKERS

HLL gained nearly 3% (Rs 7) to Rs 251, and ITC was up 2.6% at Rs 187.

Reliance Communications surged almost 3% to Rs 327. HDFC moved up 2.7% to Rs 1,366.

Cipla and Larsen & Toubro advanced over 2% each to Rs 260 and Rs 2,694, respectively.

SBI, Dr.Reddy's, NTPC and BHEL were up over 1% each at Rs 991, Rs 755, Rs 129 and Rs 2,291, respectively.

While Tata Steel slipped over 1% to Rs 498, Hindalco was down 1% at Rs 168. Reliance dropped Rs 8 to Rs 1,132. Tata Motors was down Rs 11 at Rs 859.

RELIANCE TOPS TURNOVER CHART

Reliance topped the turnover chart with trades of over Rs 150 crore followed by Zee (Rs 106 crore), Mahindra Gesco (Rs 99 crore), Escorts (Rs 97 crore) and L&T (Rs 86 crore).