Markets remain listless

The market continues to hover around the day's high of 18,261. The Asian and the European markets too are quite stable. The Sensex is at 18224, higher by 44 points and the Nifty has added 11 points at 5473. The smallcap index is rooted at 0.6% while the midcap index has some of its gains and is at 0.4% almost in sync with the benchmark index at 0.3%.

Among the sectoral indices on the BSE, FMCG has gained 0.9% and has returned to top the chart once again.Bankex is atble at 0.8% while Auto index has slipped at 0.7%. There is no change at the bottom of the chart. IT down 0.07% and Oil & Gas down 0.09% continue to languish in the red.

Realty major DLF (Rs 318) up 2% leads the Sensex gainers list followed by Tata Motors (Rs 1009) gaining nearly 2%, ITC (Rs 162), SBI (Rs 2860), HDFC (Rs 625) and ONGC (Rs 1290) adding 1% each are the other prominent gainers.

Sterlite (Rs 151) down 1.5% is the major loser on the Sensex. Cipla (Rs 306), Hindustan Unilever (Rs 265) and Reliance Communications (Rs 162) shedding 1% each are the other significant losers.

Market breadth continues to be marginally positive. 1472 stocka have advanced while 1377 have declined.