Sensex recovers smartly to end 124pts up

The index touched a low of 16,547 - down 190 points from the previous close. The Sensex finally ended with a gain of 124 points at 16,861.

The breadth was negative. Out of 2,747 stocks traded today - 1,768 declined, 926 advanced and the rest were unchanged.

The NSE Nifty closed 30 points higher at 5,013.

INDEX MOVERS...
Ranbaxy was the big gainer; it was up 5.3% to Rs 494. Satyam gained 3.4% to Rs 490. ITC was up 2.5% to Rs 224, while HDFC and Reliance Communications gained 2% each to Rs 2,699 and Rs 550 respectively.

Reliance Energy gained 1.9% to Rs 1,357, Bhel was up 1.4% to Rs 1,748 and Wipro advanced 1.3% to Rs 508. Infosys, HDFC Bank, Ambuja Cements, Cipla, TCS and Reliance Industries gained over 1% each.

Other gainers included Hindalco, Maruti, ICICI Bank and NTPC.

...AND THE SHAKERS

Grasim was the big loser, down 3.6% to Rs 2,256. Jaiprakash Associates declined nearly 2% to Rs 246, while ACC was down 1.45% TO Rs 702.

DLF and Hindustan Unilever lost over 1.3% to Rs 622 and Rs 242 respectively. SBI, M&M, Bharti, Tata Steel, Tata Motors and L&T lost under 1% each.

MOST ACTIVE COUNTERS

Reliance Petroleum led the value chart with a turnover of Rs 316.97 crore followed by Cairn India (Rs 260.68 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 258.47 crore), Reliance Industries (Rs 214.02 crore) and Reliance Natural Resources (Rs 182.1 crore).

Reliance Petroleum  also topped the volume chart with trades of around 1.79 crore shares followed by Reliance Natural Resources (1.75 crore), IFCI (1.34 crore), Cairn (89.5 lakh) and Essar Oil (63.77 lakh).