Sensex ends flat amid high volatility

The Sensex today opened with a negative gap of 178 points at 14,148, on weak cues from the global markets. Selling pressure in metal and banking stocks dragged the index down almost to the 14,000-level, as it touched a low of 14,017 - down 309 points. The index recovered amid high volatility and touched a high of 14,394, up 377 points from the day's low.

However, the Sensex eventually ended on a flat note at 14,324 - down two points.

The BSE Metal index and Bankex were the major laggards in today's market. The Bankex dropped 2% to 7,950 while the Metal index shed 1.5% at 10,612.

Falling crude oil prices bouyed the Oil & Gas index, the major loser yesterday. The index added 2.6% to end at 9,312.

The market breadth was negative. Out of 2,639 stocks traded, 1,455 declined while 1,116 advanced.

INDEX MOVERS...

Grasim surged 4% to Rs 2,229. ONGC and Reliance gained 3% each to Rs 1,026 and Rs 2,016, respectively. Tata Motors and NTPC added 2.5% each.

HDFC advanced 2.3% to Rs 2,355. Tata Power, BHEL, Reliance Infrastructure, Ranbaxy and SBI moved up 1-2% each.

...AND THE SHAKERS

ICICI Bank shed 4% to Rs 697. HDFC Bank and Hindalco dropped 3.5% each to Rs 1,485 and Rs 82, respectively.

ITC and Sterlite slipped 3% each to Rs 196 and Rs 577, respectively. DLF declined 2% to Rs 316.

Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Maruti Suzuki and TCS were also down.

OTHER PROMINENT GAINERS...

Godrej Consumer Products zoomed 12% to Rs 181. Lanco Infratech surged 7% to Rs 364.

Yes Bank, Indian Hotels, Alstom Projects, IDFC, Financial Technologies, GMDC and IRB Infrastructure rallied 6-7% each.

...AND OTHER LOSERS

Nalco and Hindustan Zinc slumped 5.5% each to Rs 316 and Rs 572, respectively.

Piramal Healthcare shed 5% to Rs 297. Sesa Goa, Jain Irrigation Systems, Indiabulls Financial Services, Spice Communications, Bajaj Holdings & Investments, GE Shipping, Kotak Bank and JSW Steel dropped 3-5% each.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 358.13 crore. It was followed by Suzlon (Rs 232.90 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 226.58 crore), Unitech (Rs 178.44 crore) and ICICI Bank (Rs 172.26 crore).

Unitech led the volume chart with trades of over 23 million shares, followed by IFCI (22.66 million), Suzlon (22.08 million), Reliance Natural Resources (16.7 million) and Ispat Industries (13 million).