MUMBAI, Jan 1: The Bombay Stock Exchange began the new year on a better note with Sensex gaining 36 points on speculative support. The Sensex went up to touch the day's high at 3711.69 points, only to decline and closed at 3694.62 points as compared to the previous close of 3658.98 points with a minor gain of 36 points.The BSE-100 Index advanced further by 18.58 to 1605.18 from previous close of 1586.60 points.Brokers say the sentiment was firm during the mid-session mainly on local support. However, share prices turned slightly subdued towards the end on profit-taking soon after the announcement of election date and lack of institutional support. There were no enquiries from the foreign institutional investors (FIIs).The volume of business was very low at Rs 513.13 crore.ITC remained the most active scrip with a turnover of Rs 131.54 crore, followed by Tata Tea Rs 84.54 crore, Reliance Rs 69.22 crore, SBI Rs 69.02 crore and Castrol Rs 27.66 crore. ITC firmed up by Rs 4.50 to Rs 623. Reliance gained Rs 3.75 at 168.75, SBI Rs 2.75 to 245.75, Telco Rs 3 at 299.25, Castrol Rs 4 at 749 and Tata Tea Rs 5.25 at 426.75 on fresh support. Steel Authority improved to Rs 10.50 from previous close of Rs 9.75 and Tata Steel at Rs 134.75 from Rs 134.25.On NSE, shares prices rose further on increased speculative buying.The NSE-50 index resumed weak at 1078.95 and closed at 1081.20, showing a gain of 1.80. Thereafter, it slipped to close at 1207.40 still showing a good gain of 18.40 points The market recorded a turnover of Rs 855.68 crore.
