Stocks remain subdued

Barring select software pivotals like Mastek, Satyam Computer, Pentafour Software and Zee Telefilm, most of the counters witnessed limited activity during the session. As it was the last day of weekly trading cycle, players were busy in squaring up their positions.

Dealers said trade was listless in the absence of market-moving news and little institutional support. But select buying in index-based shares like Hindalco, Gujarat Ambuja Cements and Mahindra amp; Mahindra helped sentiment, they said.

Hindalcoclosed Rs 23.50 higher at Rs 847.55, Gujarat Ambuja Cement Rs 5.25 at Rs 572.45 and Mahindra amp; Mahindra Rs 11.50 at Rs 390. Hughes Software ended Rs 108.05 lower at Rs 1,410.85 on profit-booking after its huge premium listing on Thursday. Other big losers were NIIT down Rs 55.75 at Rs 2,340 and Hindustan Lever down Rs 37 at Rs 2,338.

Shares of Siemens Ltd were volatile after it announced a turnaround in results for the year to September 30. The share ended Rs 3.95 up at Rs 474.95, off the day8217;s high of Rs 500. Data from the BSE showed 892 issues declined, 670 advanced while 142 traded shares were unchanged. The total traded volume was 63.86 million shares compared to 64.74 million on Thursday.