Mumbai: BSE Sensex open weaker by 133.48 points

Mumbai, Apr 19: The Sensex today opened weaker by 133.48 points on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) at 13,538.71 from its previous close of 13,672.19 points, tracking weak global markets.

The broader 50-stock Nifty Index also slipped by 13.10 points on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) to open at 3,998.50 from its previous close of 4,011.60 points.

Infosys was the top-loser, down 2.10 per cent to Rs 2034.90, on a volume of 63,400 shares. Other frontline software stocks were not spared either.

Wipro (down 1.85 per cent), Satyam Computers (down 1.32 per cent), and TCS (down 1.07 per cent) had also slipped.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) was down by 0.69 percent to Rs 1476.60, on a volume of 86,075 shares.

Gujarat Ambuja Cements was the top-gainer, up by 0.25 per cent to Rs 113.50, on a volume of 1.69 lakh shares.

NTPC (up 0.15 per cent) and Hero Honda (up 0.19 per cent) were the other gainers.

Advanta India surged in initial volatile trade and was hovering at Rs 913.

Stock-specific buying may continue as Q4 earning reports continue to trickle in. The major March 2007 quarter result today is that of cement major, ACC. The firm is expected to unveil strong numbers on the back of firm cement prices.

Japanese shares led Asian stock markets downward with exporters nursing hefty falls after local currencies strengthened and investors worried that Chinese economic data could spark turbulence.

The Shanghai Composite Index had dropped 3.3 per cent by mid-morning before recovering to stand down 1.75 per cent in hectic trade. Japan's Nikkei was down by two per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 1.49 per cent.

The Dow Jones industrial average yesterday gained 30.80 points, or 0.24 per cent, to close at a record 12,803.84. The Standard Poor's 500 Index added 1.02 points, or 0.07 per cent, to finish at 1,472.50. But the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 6.45 points, or 0.26 per cent, to close at 2,510.50.

UNI