Infosys hammered yet again

Morgan Stanley reportedly sold off about 10 lacs shares of Zee Telefilms badly affecting the scrip. However, select heavyweights like HLL, ITC and RIL helped mitigate damage to the Sensex by scoring handsome gains. In the specified group, 111 counters registered sharp to moderate losses while 28 others showed gains. The BSE-200 index and the Dollex were quoted down at 444.68 and 158.50 compared with previous close of 452.10 and 161.25 respectively. The BSE-500 Index lost 22.48 points to 1330.09 from yesterday close of 1352.57.

Himachal Futuristic remained the top traded share having clocked the highest turnover of Rs 800.27 crore followed by Satyam Rs 630.83 crore, Infosys Rs 503.92 crore, Global Rs 430.45 crore and Zee Tele Rs 320.30 crore. The market leader Himachal fell 59.40 to 1250.80. Satyam dropped 13.05 to 330.60, Infosys 345.95 to 6277.10, Global 98.30 to 854.75, Zee 26.60 to 272.45, NIIT 34.85 to 1654.50, SBI 2.95 to 193.25, Pentamedia 17.90 to 328.90, Sterlite 47.25 to 895.75, SSI 82.50 to 1595.55, Aptech by 17.05 to 390.85 and Wipro by 104.75 to 2506.20.

Skindia down

MUMBAI: The Skindia GDR index, representing GDRs of 22 actively traded companies declined further sharply by 2.05 per cent to 671.65 on December 20 from its previous close of 685.68. The Skindia GDR index P/E ratio also decreased sharply by 2.05 per cent to 11.36 from 11.60 previously.

Among the Indian GDRs, there were 20 losers, 9 gainers and 44 held unchanged. The GDRs of Indo Gulf, CESC and EI Hotels were quoted higher at 0.90, 0.55 and 5.38 respectively as against 0.75, 0.50 and 5.08 previously. However, the GDRs of SSI Ltd and Wipro dropped marginally.

Rupee firms

MUMBAI: The Rupee firmed up slightly against the US currency on renewed dollar sales in extremely thin and listless trade at the interbank foreign exchange forex market today, severely affected by the nation-wide strike by bank employees.

Opening around Rs 46.70/72 per dollar, the rupee later settled at Rs 46.6900/6950 at the close, a two paise gain from overnight closing levels of Rs 46.7050/7150 in mostly muted business. Dealers reported stray deals between foreign and private banks. Activity was limited to a few participants and the volumes were extremely shallow. The rupee should open soft tomorrow, as there may be somedollar demand from state-owned banks for their corporate clients, they said. Over 13 lakh employees of public-sector banks and RBI observed a one-day nation-wide strike today called by the United forum of Bank Unions to protest the proposed privatisation of nationalised banks.

Bullion closes firm

MUMBAI: Firm conditions prevailed on the bullion market today as both the precious metals, gold and silver, rose smartly following higher international advices. Standard gold rallied by Rs 25 to close at Rs 4550 as against yesterday8217;s close of Rs 4525. 22-carat gold was nominally quoted higher at Rs 4210 from the previous level of Rs 4185 and ten-tola gold bar .999 purity jumped up by Rs 300 to Rs 53,300 from Rs 53,000.

Traders attributed the rise in prices to firm overseas advices as the yellow metal had risen to 273.30 per ounce in Hong Kong as against the previous close of 270.20 an ounce. Similarly, gold prices showed smart rise in Tokyo and London. Ready silver .999 fineness, after a steady start at Rs 7,730, shot up on firm London advices and closed at Rs 7,770, showing a smart rise of Rs 40 over yesterday8217;s close of Rs 7,730. Raw silver .916 fineness and tenerable silver also rose by a similar margin to Rs 7,670 and Rs 7,775 respectively from the previous close of Rs 7,630 and Rs 7,735.