Stocks remain lacklustre

Although foreign funds made small deals in select counters like Reliance, Pentafour Software, Satyam Computers, Tata Tea, IPCL and others, local operators booked profit. Trading started better but the sentiment turned subdued during the mid-session. Shares of the textile sector rose sharply amidst expectations of anti-dumping duty in the budget for the protection of textile and steel industry. Arvind Mill and Century Textiles even hit the upward circuitfilters.

The volume of business remained low even though it was the first day of trading for the new account at the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The total turnover amounted to Rs 1346.19 crore. Pentafour Software was the most actively traded scrip with a volume of Rs 212.84 crore followed by Satyam Computers Rs 190.50 crore, Reliance Rs 147.07 crore, Tata Tea Rs 101.59 crore and ITC Rs 78.76 crore. Pentafour gained Rs 12 at Rs 830.25, Reliance Rs 3.40 at Rs 141.60 and ITC Rs 1.25 at Rs 814.25. Satyam Computer lost by Rs 12.75 to Rs 922 and Tata Tea by Rs 2.00 to Rs 439 on profit-taking.

On the NSE, shares prices rose marginally on the first day of the current settlement on fresh buying activity. The S&P CNX Nifty recovered by 8.00 to end at 957.65 from the last close of 949.65. Today 659 securities advanced, 335 declined and 90 held steady. 98 securities had hit their price bands. The market witnessed trades worth Rs 1562.17 crore.