Markets have a sedate start

Considering the weak US and Asian cues, our markets have opened on a quiter note. The Sensex is quoting at 16,714, down 71 points, and the Nifty is at 4962, down 26 points.

The top Sensex losers are ICICI Bank (weaker by 1.4% at RS 873), M&M (down 1.2% at Rs 1,001) and SBI (lower by 1.1% at Rs 2,253).

DLF and Reliance Infrastructure have shed slightly more than 1% each.

The leading Sensex gainers are ONGC (higher by 0.5% at Rs 1,169), NTPC (firmer by 0.4% at Rs 214) and Grasim (up 0.2% at Rs 2,280).

The market breadth is weak. Out of 1,345 stocks traded on the BSE, there are 573 advancing stocks as against 724 declines.