Sensex slips in second-half; auto stocks buck trend

The Sensex today opened 24 points higher at 15,691. Despite yesterday's fall the index today exhibited strength in the morning trades owing to firm cues from the Asian markets and the good monthly car sales numbers. 

The Taiwan Weighted Index soared 3% and the Seoul Composite Index  added 2% and all the other indices ended on a positive note.Auto major Maruti  posted a surge of 42% in sales numbers.

The BSE benchmark index surged to a high of 15,923, up 256 points. However, the index slipped into the negative terrain on the back of sudden selling in the realty, metal and power stocks. The index slipped to a low of 15,475, down 448 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended at 15,551, down 115 points.

The NSE Nifty finally settled at 4,625, down 37 points. The index touched a high of 4,736, before tumbling to a low of 4,600.

The market breadth was negative. Out of 2,870 shares traded, 1,150 advanced and 1,656 declined on the BSE today.

Mostly all the sectoral indices ended in red with realty index leadng the fall, down 3% at 4,278. It was followed by metal, power, capital goods and healthcare indices, down 1-2% each.

INDEX SHAKERS...

ACC slipped 3.5% to Rs 779, and  Sterlite dropped 3% to Rs 654.

HDFC, BHEL and Jaiprakash Associates slipped around 2.5% each to Rs 2,413, Rs 2,261 and Rs 222, respectively.

ONGC, Hindalco, Reliance Infrastructure, DLF, Tata Steel and HDFC Bank declined over 1.5% each.

...AND THE MOVERS

Maruti surged 7.5% to Rs 1,546. Tata Motors gained around 6% to Rs 518.

Hero Honda and Wipro were up over 1% each at Rs 1,535 and Rs 559, respectively.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

NHPC topped the combined value chart with a turnover of Rs 2,625 crore. it was followed by Unitech (Rs 1,312 crore), Mahindra Satyam (Rs 1,085 crore), DLF (Rs 873 crore) and Aban Offshore (Rs 829 crore).

NHPC also led the volumes chart with trades of 702 million shares. It was followed by Unitech (123 million), Suzlon (121 million), Mahindra Satyam (87 million) and IFCI (68 million).