Sensex gains 19 points

The Sensex closed at 5,211, up 19 points. The Nifty was up two points at 1,634.

Index heavyweights Reliance, HLL and ITC closed flat at Rs 476, Rs 1,047 and Rs 112, respectively.

While Infosys was marginally up at Rs 1,580, and Wipro ended marginally down at Rs 576. Satyam, however, was flat at Rs 339.

Cement stocks finished with smart gains. Gujarat Ambuja was up 2.6% (Rs 8) at Rs 333. Grasim gained 1.5% (Rs 17) at Rs 1,134, and ACC advanced Rs 2 to Rs 271.

PSU stocks also gained smartly. Bhel surged 2.5% (Rs 14) to Rs 565. SBI Bank advanced 1.8% (Rs 8) to Rs 451. HPCL gained 1.5% (Rs 5) to Rs 320. However, ONGC and MTNL closed flat at Rs 715 and Rs 123, respectively.

Cement stocks extend gains

The Sensex is up 24 points at 5,216. The Nifty is at 1,636 - four points.  Gujarat Ambuja is up nearly 3% (Rs 9) at Rs 333.

Graism has advanced 1.6% (Rs 18) to Rs 1,136. ACC, however, is steady at Rs 271.  Bhel has moved up 2.4% (Rs 13) to Rs 565.

HPCL has surged 1.6% (Rs 5) to Rs 320. SBI has rallied 1.8% (Rs 8) to Rs 451. Infosys and Satyam are flat at Rs 1,578 and Rs 340, respectively. Wipro is down Rs 3 at Rs 576.

The Sensex is at 5,219, up 27 points. The Nifty has moved up to 1,640, up 8 points.

Frontliners like Reliance, ITC, HLL and software stocks are showing lacklusture movement.  Bhel has moved a tad higher to Rs 564 - up Rs 12. HPCL is up 1.5% (Rs 5) at Rs 320, and ONGC is up a rupee at Rs 715.

SBI Bank, however, is steady at Rs 448, while MTNL contineus to trade flat at Rs 123.  Auto stocks are in positive territory. Hero Honda has gained over a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 448. Maruti is up a per cent at Rs 386.

Bajaj Auto has advanced Rs 7 to Rs 939, and Tata Motors is up Rs 2.50 at Rs 393.  Ranbaxy has rallied 1.5% (Rs 15) to Rs 973. Cipla is up Rs 2 at Rs 240, and Dr.Reddy's is unchanged at Rs 705.

Cement stocks are ruling firm. Gujarat Ambuja leading with a gain of 2% (Rs 6) at Rs 331. Grasim and ACC are firm at Rs 1,130 and Rs 272, respectively.

While Hindalco has advanced Rs 5 to Rs 1,184, and Tisco is up Rs 2 at Rs 254.  Zee has dropped 2.5% (Rs 4) to Rs 149.  The BSE BANKEX, Auto and PSU indices are up nearly a per cent each at 2,558, 2,285 and 3,354, respectively.

Wyeth, ING Vysya Bank, Ramco System, Maharashtra Seamless, Indo Rama, L&T, Micro Inks, Balaji Tele, Mirc Electronics, RCF and Alstom Project have gained 4-7% each. Orchid Chem, Videocon Intl, India Cements, LIC Housing Finance, Century Enka, Chennai Petro, Ispat Inds, Nirma and Saw Pipes have also posted smart gains.

Kochi Refineries is down 4% (Rs 7) to Rs 175. CESC, Ballarpur Inds, Jindal Steel, Apollo Hospitals, TVS Motors, Jindal Stainless, Tata Infotech, Titan, Lupin, Crompton Greaves, Alok Inds, Britannia, Bongaigaon, Indian Overseas Bank and Gail India have declined 1-2% each.

Sensex @ 1300 hrs

The Sensex is up 18 points at 5,210. The Nifty is up three points at 1,635.

Fresh buying in cement stocks on hopes of higher shipments data for august has led the scrips to higher levels. Gujarat Ambuja has spurted 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 331.

Grasim has gained over a per cent (Rs 14) at Rs 1,132, and ACC is up Rs 2 at Rs 271.

Bhel rallied nearly 2% (Rs 10) to Rs 562.  ITC has pared gains and is now up Rs 4 at Rs 1,051. Reliance and HLL are flat at Rs 476 and Rs 112, respectively.

While Infosys is almost flat at Rs 1,578, Satyam and Wipro have slipped into negative zones and are marginally down at Rs 339 and Rs 577, respectively.  HPCL is firm at Rs 319, and ONGC is unchanged at Rs 714.

SBI Bank is up Rs 2 at Rs 445. ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank are flat at Rs 270 and Rs 368, respectively.  Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda and Maruti are holding gains at Rs 939, Rs 445 and Rs 384, respectively. However, Tata Motors has slipped into negative zone and is down Rs 2.50 at Rs 388.

Ranbaxy is up Rs 10 at Rs 968. While Cipla is up a rupee at Rs 239, Dr Reddy's is flat at Rs 705.  While Tata Power is up Rs 2 at Rs 262, Reliance Energy is down Rs 4 at Rs 650.  HDFC is down Rs 5 to Rs 552. Bharti Tele and Zee have shed 1.5% (Rs 2) each to Rs 138 and Rs 151, respectively.

The BSE Auto, FMCG and PSU indices are holding gains at 2,272, 852 and 3,346, respectively. The BSE TECk index is tad higher at 1,342.

Sensex @ 1200 hrs

The Sensex has pared some gains and is now up 17 points at 5,209. The Nifty is up three points at 1,635.

Reliance is up a rupee at Rs 476. ITC is firm at Rs 1,056 - up Rs 9, and HLL is flat at Rs 112.

Infosys is holding gains at Rs 1,582, up Rs 7. Satyam and Wipro are flat at Rs 339 and Rs 578, respectively.

Auto stocks have declind from higher levels. Hero Honda and Maruti are up Rs 4 each at Rs 447 and Rs 385, respectively. Bajaj Auto and Tata Motors are marginally up at Rs 935 and Rs 391, respectively.

HPCL has moved up a per cent to Rs 319, and ONGC is a tad higher at Rs 715.  Pharma stocks have shed gains. Ranbaxy is up a per cent at Rs 967. Cipla and Dr.Reddy's are up Rs 2 each at Rs 240 and Rs 707, respectively.

The BSE Auto, FMCG and PSU indices are up 0.5% each at 2,278, 854 and 3,345, respectively. The BSE TECk index is marginally up at 1,344.  Ramco System, Maharashtra Seamless, Wyeth, Indo Rama, RCF, ING Vysya Bank, Orchid Chem, Balaji Tele, Nirma, Ispat Inds, Ingersoll Rand, LIC Housing Finance, Alstom Project, Mirc Electronics and Essel Propack are up 3-6% each.

Ballarpur Inds is down 3% (Rs 2) to Rs 81. Titan, Apollo Hospitals, Torrent Pharma, CESC, Indian Overseas Bank, Tata Infotech and Gail India are down 1-2% each.

Sensex @ 1100 hrs

The Sensex rallied to an intra-day high of 5,223, and is now up 29 points at 5,221. The Nifty is up five points at 1,637.

Reliance is up a rupee at Rs 477. ITC has gained Rs 11 at Rs 1,058, and HLL is flat at Rs 112.

Infosys is up Rs 9 at Rs 1,584, Satyam has gained a rupee at Rs 340, and Wipro is marginally up at Rs 580.

Auto stocks witnessing fresh buying following impressive August sales data for the month of August. Hero Honda has zoomed nearly 2% to Rs 450. Bajaj Auto and Maruti have gained over a per cent each at Rs 945 and Rs 386, respectively. Tata Motors is up Rs 2 at Rs 392.

HPCL is up a per cent at Rs 318, and ONGC is marginally up at Rs 716.  ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and SBI have advanced Rs 2 each to Rs 271, Rs 370 and Rs 445, respectively.

Grasim is up Rs 9 at Rs 1,127. ACC has gained Rs 2 at Rs 271, and Gujarat Ambuja is a up a rupee at Rs 325.

Ranbaxy has rallied 1.5% (Rs 14) to Rs 972. Cipla is up Rs 2 at Rs 240, and Dr Reddy's has moved up Rs 4 to Rs 709.

Tisco and Tata Power are up a per cent each at Rs 254 and Rs 262, respectively.

Sensex @ 1005 hrs

The Sensex opened 10 points higher at 5,202, and is now up 25 points at 5,217.

The Nifty is up 7 points at 1,639.

ITC has gained a per cent at Rs 1,058 in the early morning deals. Reliance is up Rs 2 at Rs 478, and HLL is flat at Rs 112.

Infosys is up Rs 9 at Rs 1,584, Satyam has gained a rupee at Rs 341, and Wipro is marginally up at Rs 580.

Auto stocks are heading north in the early morning trade. Hero Honda has zoomed 2 per cent at Rs 452. Bajaj Auto has advanced a per cent at Rs 942.