Sensex opens low at 13,667.13 pts.

Mumbai, Nov 23: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex today opened low at 13,667.13 points, from it's last close of 13,706.53 points, due to profit booking by domestic opeators and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), brokers said.

Early trade was characterized by volatility. The market opened weak, but staged a solid reversal by striking an all-time high. But, the buoyancy died a premature death and the Sensex slipped into the red once again.

At 10:22 hrs the Sensex was down 7 points, at 13,699. It had hit 13,667.13. The barometer index also hit a lifetime high of 13,790.82.

Meanwhile, S&P CNX Nifty index of National Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed flat at 3855.30 points. It had hit 3944.85 points. The Nifty index quoted at 3958 points during the current session with a net gain of four points from it's previous close of 3954.75 points.

Asian stocks rose today, with an index of shares outside Japan at record levels for the second successive day, as strong earnings from US computer maker Dell boosted shares in technology suppliers.

Software major Infosys rose 0.5 per cent to Rs 2,238, after Infy ADR gained 1.2% yesterday, to USD 54.13. Wipro rose 0.2 per cent to Rs 586.40. Wipro ADR surged 5 per cent yesterday to USD 15.74.

Satyam Computer shed 1.5 per cent to Rs 470. It's ADR rose 4.7% yesterday, to USD 242.4.

ICICI Bank lost 0.1 per cent to Rs 880. A large block deal of 92.7 lakh shares was executed in ICICI Bank at Rs 880.50 in BSE's FII segment in early trade.

Oil exploration major ONGC dropped 1.3 per cent to Rs 846, as crude oil dropped below USD 60 a barrel level. But oil's fall lifted shares of oil marketing firms. HPCL rose 1.1 per cent to Rs 320, BPCL gained 0.3 per cent to Rs 372 and Indian Oil Corporation added 0.4 per cent to Rs 507. US January crude oil futures fell 93 cents, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at .24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after government data showed a larger-than-expected rise in domestic inventories last week. L&T rose 2 per cent to Rs 1,401, extending Wednesday's gain.Tata Steel rose 0.3 per cent to Rs 474.40.Tata Power hiked nearly 2 per cent to Rs 574. The scrip rose for the second day in a row after Tata Steel signed a joint venture agreement with Tata Power for captive power plants in three states. Tata Power will hold majority 74 per cent stake in the venture. Reliance Industries was up 0.09 per cent to Rs 1,279.35, brokers added.

UNI

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