Sensex extends down trend, opens 121.21 pts down

Mumbai, Jan 18: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sensitive index extended the down trend by coming down 121.21 points to open at 19,579.61 on weak note.

The benchmark sensex touched a low of 19,425.19, lost more than 270 points on sustianed profit booking in the early trade. However, it recovered slightly in the mid-morning amid choppy trading session, traders said. Index heavy weights Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank fell. All the sectoral indices on BSE were in the red. Banking and realty shares were the worst hit. The market breadth was weak.

Out of 30, 23 shares from the Sensex pack were in the red. Asian markets, which opened before Indian market, were mostly in the red.

The broader based CNX S&P Nifty index at National Stock Exchange was down 75.65 points or 1.28 per cent to 5837.55. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 1.22 per cent to 12,584.91, while Mid-Cap index rose 1 per cent to 9,246.36.

Frontliners, Reliance Industries fell 1.48 per cent to Rs 2951.90, ICICI Bank fell 2.10 per cent to Rs 1294.10, Larsen&Toubro declined 2.08 per cent to Rs 3993. Among the other losers, HDFC Bank shed 2.63 per cent, DLF slipped 2.46 per cent, Satyam Computers fell 1.75 per cent, Bharat Heavy Electricals skid 1.72 per cent and ONGC fell 1.69 per cent.

Among the gainers, Ranbaxy Laboratories rose 1.63 per cent, Ambuja Cements advanced 1.26 per cent, Reliance Energy gained 0.78 per cent, Grasim Industries rose 0.70 per cent and Bajaj Auto moved up 0.69 per cent.

UNI