Sensex resumes at positive note, pares gain

Mumbai, Dec 20: The benchmark Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today resumed smartly 118.26 points up at 19,210.22 from its previous close of 19,091.96 on firm note of sustained inflows.

After a firm start, the market soon pared gains amid volatile trade in the early session. IT and power stocks are on gaining side. Satyam Computer Services and Infosys were major gainers whereas HDFC Bank and Cipla were major losers from the Sensex pack. Asian markets were steady to firm today, dealers said.

The broader based S&P CNX index Nifty at National Stock Exchange opened flat at 5,751.75. It was at gain of 30.75 points at 5,782.50, soon after few trades.

Market breadth was positive. On BSE, 1,399 stocks advanced, 1,045 stocks declined and 62 stocks remained unchanged. Sixteen out of 30 stocks from the Sensex pack advanced.

BSE Mid-Cap index declined 0.54 pc to 9,031.33. BSE Small-Cap index declined 0.17pc to 11,895.69. Both these indices underperformed Sensex.

Among the frontline stocks, Reliance Industries was at the gain of 0.38 pc to Rs 2,715. HDFC Bank was down 0.93pc to Rs 1,641.60, followed by Bajaj Auto down 0.79pc to Rs 2,755, Cipla down 0.63 pc to Rs 214, ICICI Bank down 0.95 pc to Rs 1,150 and Larsen&Toubro down 0.83 pc to Rs 3,965.

IT stocks rose. Wipro was up 0.37 pc to Rs 485, Infosys was up 1.64 pc to Rs 1,665, Satyam Computer Services up 1.72 pc to Rs 411 and Tata Consultancy Services was up 2.4 pc to Rs 1,045.90.

Power stocks were at gain as Reliance Energy and Tata Power Company were at the gain of about one per cent.

UNI