The Sensex is trading on a flat note with negative bias amid weak Asian shares. Metal, oil & gas and PSU stocks dipped, while consumer durables, healthcare and IT edged higher.
At 9.56 a.m., the Sensex was trading down 33.77 points or 0.21% at 16,395.14 with 18 components falling. Meanwhile, the Nifty was trading lower by 11.50 points or 0.23% at 4,902.50 with 32 components falling.
The 30-share benchmark index, BSE Sensex opened flat with a decline of 7.71 points or 0.05% at 16,421.20, while the broad based NSE Nifty started with a fall of 55.35 points or 1.13%, at 4,858.65.
On global front, Asian stocks fell from a two-week high as Qantas Airways earnings missed analyst estimates and declining metal prices dragged down mining companies.
``The trend deciding level for the day is 16,380 / 4,900 levels. Nifty trades above this level during the first half-an-hour of trade then we may witness a further rally up to 16,530-16,632 / 4,943-4,973 levels. However, if Nifty trades below 16,380 / 4,900 levels for the first half-an-hour of trade then it may correct up to 16,278 -16,128 / 4,871-4,828 levels,`` said Angel Broking while commenting on the market outlook today.
Sensex Movers
Reliance Industries contributed fall of 25.91 points in the Sensex. It was followed by Tata Steel (8.97 points), Sterlite Industries (India) (5.4 points), Larsen & Toubro (5.38 points) and ITC (4.3 points).
However, Infosys Technologies contributed rise of 9.03 points in the Sensex. It was followed by HDFC Bank (6.22 points), Tata Consultancy Services (3.88 points), Housing Development Finance Corporation (3.37 points) and Wipro (1.75 points).
Major gainers in the 30-share index were HDFC Bank (0.75%), Wipro (0.68%), DLF (0.67%), Tata Consultancy Services (0.65%), Tata Motors (0.59%), and Hero Honda Motors (0.58%).
On the other hand, Tata Steel (1.97%), Sterlite Industries (India) (1.41%), Jaiprakash Associates (1.37%), Maruti Suzuki India (1.26%), Reliance Industries (1.16%), and Reliance Communications (0.88%) were the biggest losers in the Sensex.
Mid & Small-cap Space
The BSE Mid and small caps outperformed their larger counterparts gaining 0.35% and 0.48% respectively.
The major gainers in the BSE Midcap were A I A Engineering (1.35%), Alstom Projects India (0.46%), Ackruti City (0.28%), Allcargo Global Logistics (0.25%) and Allahabad Bank (0.22%).
The major gainers in the BSE Smallcap were A B G Infralogistics (2.56%), Adhunik Metaliks (1.78%), Provogue (India) (1.56%), Abhishek Industries (1.34%) and Advanta India (0.54%).
Sectors in Limelight
The Metal index was at 16,240.41, down by 194.73 points or by 1.18%. The major losers were Jindal Steel & Power (1.4%), JSW Steel (1.16%), NMDC (1.05%), National Aluminium Company (0.8%) and Hindalco Industries (0.56%).
The Oil & Gas index was at 9,858.59, down by 66.98 points or by 0.67%. The major losers were G A I L (India) (0.89%), Aban Offshore (0.7%), Indian Oil Corporation (0.34%), Cairn India (0.17%) and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (0.02%).
The Realty index was at 3,366.20, down by 6.29 points or by 0.19%. The major losers were Unitech (1.68%), Indiabulls Real Estate (1.43%) and Orbit Corporation (0.75%).
On the other hand, the HC index was at 4,906.37, up by 49.19 points or by 1.01%. The major gainers were Aurobindo Pharma (1.36%), Cipla (1.35%), Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (0.58%), Bilcare (0.48%) and Biocon (0.38%).
Market Breadth
Market breadth was positive with 1,121 advances against 940 declines.
Value and Volume Toppers
Sigrun Holdings topped the value chart on the BSE with a turnover of Rs. 1,236.97 million. It was followed by Havell`S India (Rs. 259.51 million), Mahindra Satyam (Rs. 238.49 million) and Tata Steel (Rs. 172.75 million).
The volume chart was led by Sigrun Holdings with trades of over 21.04 million shares. It was followed by Mahindra Satyam (2.32 million), Cals Refineries (1.67 million) and Ruchi Soya Industries (1.65 million).
