Sensex, Nifty close flat: VSNL, BPCL top gainers

The markets ended flat amid lack of global cues and volatility through the day. This was the first weekly loss of Sensex and Nifty after 10-week of gains. Metal, capital goods, oil stocks surged while FMCG and pharma stocks tumbled.

The Sensex finished at 12,372.81, down 0.13% or 16.60 points. It touched an intraday high of 12,434.22 and an intraday low 12,357.69.

The Nifty closed up 0.13% or 4.8 points at 3569.70. It touched an intraday high of 3,583.75 and an intraday low 3,560.90.

The BSE Midcap and Small Cap indices closed at 5,264.24 and 6,328.97, up 0.67% and 1.07%, respectively.

The market breadth was positive, about 1561 shares advanced, 921 shares declined, and 54 shares remained unchanged.

The NSE and BSE cash turnover were Rs 6595.56 crore (Rs 65.95 billion) and Rs 3704.29 crore (Rs 37.04 billion), respectively. The NSE F&O segment turnover was Rs 20119.54 crore (Rs 201.19 billion). The total turnover was Rs 30419.39 crore (Rs 304.19 billion).

Top gainers were Hindalco (2.12%), Reliance Comm (1.56%), Gujarat Ambuja Cements (1.04%), Reliance (0.69%), VSNL (9.34%), BPCL (4.94%), HPCL (4.57%) and Siemens (3.58%).

However, top losers were HLL (-1.86%), HDFC (-1.54%), ITC (-1.44%), Wipro (-1.39%), Glaxo (-1.61%) and Dabur India (-1.37%).

Inflation for week ended September 23 was at 4.77% versus 4.56%; market estimate was at 4.61%.

VSNL was the winner of the day on the Nifty. It touched an intraday high of Rs 452.40 and an intraday low of Rs 405. It closed at Rs 432.70, up Rs 36.95, or 9.34%, with huge volumes 96,61,187 shares on the following news:

• Telecom commission clears scheme of demerger for 770 acres of VSNL surplus land
• DoT to seek cabinet approval to acquire 51.02% stake in shell company, HPIL
• DoT to seek loan of Rs 50 crore towards stamp duty expenses
• Cabinet likely to take up case in two weeks: Sources
• Demerged entity to be listed in stock exchanges
• 20% of demerged entity to be given to shareholders who rendered shares at time of divestment
• 28.88% to be in the hands of VSNL's existing non-promoter shareholders

The BSE Metal Index outperformed the other indices. It closed up 1.13% at 8,686.62 as buying was seen in JSW Steel, Sesa Goa, Jindal Saw, Guj NRE Coke, Hindalco and SAIL.

Capital goods stocks like KEC Infrastructures, Praj Industries, Thermax, Gammon India and Siemens surged. The BSE Capital Goods Index was up 0.94% at 8,238.98.

BPCL, HPCL, IOC, MRPL, GAIL and Reliance spurted up. The BSE Oil & Gas Index ended at 5,815.25, up 0.90%.

The BSE Consumer Durables Index was up 0.92% at 3,135.64. Consumer durables stocks like Mirc Electronic, Su-Raj Diamonds, Samtel Color and Titan Industries moved up.

Auto stocks including MRF, Apollo Tyres, M&M, Ashok Leyland and Bharat Forge also firmed up. The BSE Auto Index rose 0.22% at 5,472.17.

Markets today

• Markets end flat amid lack of global cues
• Sensex down 16.6 points close at 12372.81; Nifty up 4.80 point at 3569.70
• BSE Oil & Gas Index up nearly 1%; BPCL, HPCL up 4.7% each, IOC up 4.34%
• BSE Metal Index up 1.13%; Hindalco up 2.12%, SAIL up 1.12%
• VSNL in focus; stock up 9.34% on demerger of surplus land
• CNX Midcap Index ends marginally higher at 4774.94; led by textile stocks
• Celebrity Fashion up 19.4%, Bombay Rayon up 16%; Alok Ind up 6.8%
• BSE Small-Cap Index up 1.07%; led by leather stock
• Crew BOS up 18.18%, Mirza Int up 11.6%
• New Listing: Usher Agro close at Rs 16.20/sh versus issue price of Rs 15/sh
• NSE Advance : Decline at 5:3
• Total market turnover at Rs 30419.39 crore versus Rs 32637.84 crore on Thursday

However, the BSE FMCG Index underperformed other indices as FMCG stocks like HLL, Dabur India, ITC, P&G and Colgate lost ground. It was down 1.17% at 2,027.64.

Pharma losers were Sterling Biotech, Apollo Hospital, Wyeth, Novartis India, Glaxo and Cadila Health. The BSE Healthcare Index fell 0.43% at 3,622.99.

The BSE Bankex closed at 6,080.17, up 0.27%. Banking stocks including Karnataka Bank, Allahabad Bank, IOB, Canara Bank, Oriental Bank and Andhra Bank tumbled.

Technology stocks like Moser Baer, Wipro, Satyam and TCS also slipped. The BSE IT Index was down 0.08% at 4,400.64.

Markets this week

• 1st weekly loss for Sensex, Nifty after 10 weeks of gains
• Sensex down 0.73% at 12372.81, Nifty down 0.54% at 3569.70
• BSE Metals Index up 2%; SAIL up 4.1%, Hindalco up 2.7%
• BSE Auto Index up 2%; Tata Motors up 3.7%, Bajaj up 3.45%, M&M up 3.2%
• BSE Healthcare Index down 1.7%; Ranbaxy down 3.87%, DRL down 3%
• BSE FMCG Index down 1.84%; HLL down 4.6%, ITC down 1.7%
• Index Gainers: HPCL up 8.8%, BPCL up 7.6%, VSNL up 8.77%
• CNX Midcap Index up 1.8% at 4774.95
• Midcap Gainers: Petronet LNG up 21% on stake sale to Qatar Co, Moser Baer up 15%
• Midcap Gainers: Dredging Corp, Shree Cement, Bank of Maharashtra up 11% each
• BSE Small Cap Index up 2.7% at 6328.97
• Small Cap Gainers: GMM Pfaudler, Keval Kiran up 25% each, Provogue up 21%
• Small Cap Gainers: Shringar Cinema up 21%, Celebrity Fashions, Crew BOS up 19% each

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