Nifty closes below 2800; auto, IT decline

Mumbai, Feb 5: Equities ended the lacklustre session in the red. Weak global markets also weighed sentiments. Auto and IT stocks were worst hit while metals and pharmaceutical stocks bucked the trend.

National Stock Exchange"s Nifty shut shop at 2785.70, down 17.35 points or 0.62 per cent. The index hit an intra-day low of 2754.85 and high of 2816.80.

Bombay Stock Exchange"s Sensex ended at 9106.10, down 95.75 points or 1.04 per cent. The index touched a high of 9247.09 and low of 9017.08.

BSE Midcap Index slipped 0.66 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index was down 0.93 per cent.

Biggest Nifty gainers were SAIL (4.67 per cent), Grasim Industries (3.26 per cent), Suzlon Energy (2.62 per cent), Siemens (2.62 per cent) and Reliance Petroleum (2.24 per cent).
4.10 PM

Sensex breaches 9100; Sterlite, M&M, Maruti drag
Selling intensified in frontline stocks as wary traders were reluctant to take long positions in a directionless market. Auto, capital goods and oil&gas stocks were the worst hit while metal space showed some strength.

Decline in inflation failed to lift market sentiment. Inflation for the week ended January 24 fell to 5.07 against 5.64 per cent a week ago At 1 pm, Bombay Stock Exchange"s Sensex was at 9070.55, down 131.30 points or 1.43 per cent. The index touched an intra-day low of 9069.64 and high of 9247.09.

National Stock Exchange"s Nifty was at 2766.30, down 1.31 per cent or 36.75 points. The broader index touched a low of 2764.75 and high of 2816.80.

Broader markets remained lacklustre. BSE Midcap Index was down 0.51 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index slipped 0.57 per cent.

Amongst sectoral indices, BSE Auto Index was down 2.16 per cent, BSE Realty Index fell 1.92 per cent and BSE IT Index tripped 1.74 per cent. BSE Metal Index bucked the trend and was up 0.49 per cent.
2.38 PM

Sensex rangebound; Realty, Auto down
Equities remained tepid on Thursday as market lacked participation and triggers to drive it either way. There was no clear direction from global markets as the Asian markets were mixed and US markets ended lower.

Sector and stock specific action was seen across the board. Realty shares continued to get battered down ever since industry majors reported poor earnings while metal stocks rose for a straight third session on sentiments that demand slump may have bottomed out

At 10:25 am, Bombay Stock Exchange"s Sensex was at 9184.26, down 17.59 points or 0.19 per cent. The index touched an intra-day low of 9169.63 and high of 9247.09.

National Stock Exchange"s Nifty was at 2806.65, up 3.6 points or 0.13 per cent. The index touched a high of 2816.80 and low of 2800 in trade so far. BSE Metal Index was up 2.18 per cent and BSE FMCG Index edged 0.44 per cent higher. BSE Realty Index fell 1.20 per cent, BSE Auto Index tripped 0.99 per cent and BSE Bankex declined 0.79 per cent.

Tata Steel (4.41 per cent), Grasim Industries (1.24 per cent), Hindalco Industries (1.02 per cent), ITC (0.86 per cent) and HINDustan UNILever (0.58 per cet) were the major Sensex gainers.

Mahindra & Mahindra (-3.22 per cent), Tata Motors (-3.11 per cent), Sterlite Industries (-2.09 per cent), DLF (-2.04 per cent) and Jaiprakash Associates (-1.15 per cent) were the top losers.
11.53 AM

Quiet start for equities; metals extend gains

Stocks opened on a positive note on Thursday, Feb 5 helped by decent gains in metal counters. Realty and auto stocks edged lower.

Bombay Stock Exchange"s 30-share Sensex rose 37 points to 9237. National Stock Exchange"s benchmark Nifty climbed 12 points to 2815.55 from its previous close.

US stocks fell on Wednesday as a grim profit forecast from Kraft Foods signaled that consumers are cutting down even on the basics and investors worried those efforts to rescue banks could wipe out shareholders. A report showing that the vast service sector shrank less than expected in January curbed technology losses, helping the Nasdaq finish marginally lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 121.62 points, or 1.51 per cent, to 7,956.74, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 6.34 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 832.17 and The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 1.25 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 1,515.05.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)