Lacklustre Trading

Trading at the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) remained lacklustre and devoid of any buying interest yesterday at the end of the settlement.

Closing prices at the exchange were marginally lower and the 51-scrip CSE index declined by 2.14 points from Tuesday's level and closed at 421.54 points.

Volumes were restricted as operators refrained from making any fresh commitments. Trading at the State Bank of India (SBI) and ITC counter, however, dominated most of the day's proceedings.

According to ringside observers, selling pressure on the SBI counter also affected the weak market sentiments. After opening at Rs 251, the SBI scrip retreated to Rs 239 and fluctuated slightly before finally closing at Rs 240. ITC, was the only one which gained much in the afternoon. It spurted by Rs 11 from the earlier level, touched an intra-day low of Rs 309 and settled at Rs 314.