Sensex pares gains on profit-taking, ends up 33pts

The Sensex opened 123 points higher at 16,296 tracking strong global cues. The index zoomed to a high of 16,435. The BSE-benchmark index however lost its grip and pared gains owing to profit booking in realty, auto and oil & gas stocks.

The weak opening of the European bourses dragged the Sensex into the negative to touch a low of 16,166. The Sensex moved in the range of 268 points throughout the day. The index finally ended flat at 16,217, up 33 points.

The NSE Nifty settled at 4,819, up five points.

The market breadth was fairly negative, out of 2,880 shares traded, 1,710 declined and 1,093 advanced so far on the BSE.

Among the sectoral indices, realty index slipped 2% to 4,317. Metal and bankex indices on the other hand gained over 1% each.

INDEX MOVERS...

ICICI Bank advanced 3% to Rs 816. Sterlite and Tata Steel added around 2.5% each to Rs 767 and Rs 470, respectively.

Infosys and Bharti Airtel gained around 2% each at Rs 2,235 and Rs 417, respectively.

Tata Motors, BHEL and Reliance Communications were up over 1% each.

...AND THE SHAKERS

DLF slipped 3% to Rs 409. Hero Honda and Jaiprakash Associates dropped around 2.5% each to Rs 1,587 and Rs 233, respectively.

Hindalco and Mahindra & Mahindra declined 2% each to Rs 117 and Rs 821, respectively.

Maruti, Reliance Infrastructure, Grasim Industries, HDFC, Hindustan Unilever and Sun Pharmaceuticals were down over 1% each.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Reliance topped the combined value chart with a turnover of Rs 1,122 crore. It was followed by DLF (Rs 959 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 694 crore), Unitech (Rs 688 crore) and Reliance Capital (Rs 518 crore).

Reliance Natural Resourses topped the combined volume chart with trades of 96 million shares. It was followed by IFCI (63 million), Unitech (61 million), Suzlon (48 million) and Ispat Industries (44 million).