Sensex ends 5-pts lower, tech stocks drag

The Sensex opened on a weak note at 6,448 - down nine points over its previous close. After easing further to touch an early low of 6,419, the Sensex languished in negative territory (down 15-25 pts) thereafter till mid-noon trades.

Emergence of fresh buying support in select old economy stocks saw the Sensex drift into the green in late noon trades to touch an intra-day high of 6,463.

The Sensex, after witnessing a fluctuating trend towards the fag-end, finally ended five points lower at 6,452. The Nifty, too, finished weak at 1,988 - down five points.

Infosys dropped 1.42% (Rs 29) to Rs 2,032, while Satyam declined 1.71% (Rs 7) to Rs 423. Wipro lost a per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 636.

ONGC and Reliance slipped a per cent each to Rs 879 (down Rs 6) and Rs 536 (down Rs 3),

respctively. ITC, however, clocked a per cent gain (Rs 13) to Rs 1,479.

Hero Honda lost 1.19% (Rs 7) to Rs 546, and Maruti was down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 435. Bajaj was up Rs 2 at Rs 1,140.

HDFC Bank closed with a steady gain of Rs 3 at Rs 533. While ICICI was up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 395, SBI ended on a flat  note at Rs 620.

Cipla moved up 1.86% (Rs 5) to Rs 282. While Dr. Reddy's gained 1.14% (Rs 7) to Rs 665, Ranbaxy was marginally up at Rs 980.

HDFC surged 2.93% (Rs 22) to Rs 772. While BHEL added nearly 2% (Rs 16) to Rs 843, Zee was up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 157. Bharti, however, lost 1.66% (Rs 4) to Rs 216.