Sensex ends in red; HDFC, ICICI Bank, RIL slip

Mumbai, Dec 31: Frontline benchmark indices ended the last day of calendar year 2008 in negative terrain arresting two-day winning streak. Banks,oil&gas and realty scrips fell while healthcare, auto and capital goods stocks closed with marginal gains.

Bombay Stock Exchange"s Sensex closed at 9631.41, down 84.75 points or 0.87 per cent. The index touched a low of 9587.92 and a high of 9825.90. National Stock Exchange"s Nifty ended at 2958.10, down 21.40 points or 0.72 per cent. It touched a high of 3002.65 and a low of 2937.35. BSE Midcap Index was up 0.44 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index moved 1.27 per cent higher.
4.30PM

Markets choppy; RIL, Infosys, ICICI Bank drag
The markets have recovered a bit after trading near the day"s low. The Nifty had slipped towards the 2,950 mark but saw some bounceback. Selling pressure is seen in bank, oil & gas and IT stocks. However, capital goods, metal and power stocks are still trading with some gains. On the global front, Asia closed firm while European markets are trading higher.

At 1.50 pm IST, the Sensex is down 68.46 points or 0.70 per cent at 9647.70, and the Nifty down 21.30 points or 0.71 per cent at 2958.20. About 1,655 shares have advanced; 1,074 shares declined while 474 shares are unchanged. Top gainers on the Nifty are Satyam at Rs 171.00 up 6.41 per cent, NALCO at Rs 193.80 up 3.89 per cent and Suzlon Energy at Rs 62.65 up 3.13 per cent.

Negative contributors to the Sensex are Reliance, Infosys, ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel.
2.40 PM

Mkts trading firm; CG, realty, sugar surge
Markets are trading firm after volatile morning session. All BSE sectoral indices are trading in green. Capital goods index has outperformed other sectoral indices; it was up over 2%. Good buying interest is also seen in sugar, realty, metal, auto, power stocks.

At 11.13 am, the Sensex was up 53.82 points or 0.55 per cent at 9769.98, and the Nifty was down 6.45 points or 0.22 per cent at 2973.05.

Markets breadth was positive, about 1771 shares have advanced, 957 shares have declined, and 475 shares are unchanged.
12.25 pm

Nifty tests 3000 in early trade: Auto, CG, IT gain

Markets have opened with a positive note on the last trading day of 2008. Nifty tested 3000 mark but was unable to sustain and is now trading below 3000 mark. Good buying interest is seen in capital goods, auto, realty, power and IT stocks.

Suzlon, Rel Comm, HCL Tech, DLF, Unitech, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, L&T, Hindalco are among major gainers on the bourses. At 9:58 am, the Sensex was up 50

points at 9767, and the Nifty was up 8 points at 2987. Markets breadth is positive about 380 stocks advanced and 90 stocks declined.
10.18 am