Share prices show steady trend

MUMBAI, May 24: Sensex BSE sensitive index opened slightly lower at 4009.73 and moved in a range of 4045.26 and 3968.31, before closing at 4028.98 with a small gain of 13.23 points against last Friday8217;s close of 4015.75. The BSE-100 index rose by 10.25 points to 1738.92 from previous close of 1728.67.

According to brokers, despite lower badla charges around 12 per cent per annum, the operators were cautious and anticipating further correction in prices. Indian financial institutions and mutual funds were sellers in a number of scrips. FIIs who slowed down their purchases picked up shares of select scrips like Reckitt amp; Colman, Cummins India, Proctor amp; Gamble, Punjab Tractor and Cadbury.

Domestic institutions booked profits in power stocks like Tata Power and Tata Hydro besides SBI, IDBI, Oriental Bank and others. Pentafour Software clocked the highest turnover of Rs 172.09 crore of the total volume of business of Rs 1423.99 crore.

Pentafour Software gained by Rs 11 to Rs 1151, Satyam Computer by Rs 10.15 to Rs 1512.15, ITC by Rs 3.30 to Rs 1113.30, Hindustan Lever by Rs 35.25 to Rs 2290 and Zee Telefilms by Rs 50 to Rs 1700. However, SBI dipped by Rs 5.60 to Rs 258.40, Reliance by Rs 2.30 to Rs 165.60, Telco by Rs 6.75 to Rs 174.75 and Tisco by Rs 4.20 to Rs 110 on profit taking.