Markets trade soft

The markets have extended their losses in the past one hour; the Sensex is now quoting at 16,883, down 114 points and the Nifty is at 5024, down 30 points, due to selling pressure in realty, IT and technology stocks.

The benchmark indices had opened on a lacklustre note in line with the sideways movement seen globally.

The U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday on worrisome outlooks from major software makers and a decline in new home construction last month. And the Asian stocks are trading in uncertain teritory.

The top Sensex losers are Jaiprakash Associates (shed 2.1% at Rs 232), ICICI Bank (weaker by 1.4% at Rs 892 and Infosys (lower by 1.3% at Rs 2,400).

DLF, M&M and SBI have lost between 1% and 2% each.

The leading Sensex gainers are NTPC (stronger by 0.8% at Rs 216), ACC (higher by 0.5% at Rs 734) and Tata Steel (up 0.5% at Rs 549).

The market breadth is however positive. Out of 2,318 stocks traded on the BSE so far, there are 1,264 advancing stocks as against 972 declines.

JSW Steel tops the list of value toppers, having clocked a turnover of Rs 80.07 crore. This is followed by Suzlon at Rs 55.48 crore, Tata Steel at Rs 40.98 crore, Reliance Capital at Rs 40.07 crore and Reliance at Rs 39.20 crore.

Suzlon has topped the volumes charts, registering trades of 12.20 million shares. This is followed by Ispat at 11.55 million shares, Unitech at 8.48 millon shares, IFCI at 6.42 million shares and Reliance Natural Resources at 6.32 million shares.