Small rise in share prices

Software shares continued to steal the show with handsome advances particularly in Pentafour Software, Satyam Computers and Novartis on speculative buying. Pharmaceutical shares also fared better on interested buying. Infosys Tech, Hindustan Lever, Burroughs Welcome, Madras Cement and Titan suffered setbacks on squaring up positions. The total turnover was Rs 1174.11 crore. ITC was in the lead with a turnover of Rs 172.98crore. ITC gained by Rs 4 to Rs 754, Satyam by Rs 11.75 to Rs 739.25, Pentafour by Rs 34.50 to Rs 741, Zee Telefilm by 75 P to Rs 640.75 and Reliance by Rs 1.70 to Rs 121.50 on buying support.

On the National Stock Exchange NSE, prices of select shares recovered moderately in thin trading activity. The Samp;P CNX Nifty improved to 890.80 from 884.25. The total turnover was Rs 1,612.19 crore. The exchange witnessed 530 scrips advance, 395 scrips decline and 95 scrips remain unchanged while 35 securities had hit their price bands.