Sensex sheds 45 points at close

The Sensex shed 45 points to close at 5,714. The Nifty was down 15 points at 1,797.

Technology stocks were under selling pressure from the word go. Infosys declined 1.8% (Rs 32) to finish at Rs 1,686. Wipro slumped 2.4% (Rs 15) to Rs 622, and Satyam ended nearly 2 (Rs 8) lower at Rs 390.

ITC shed 1.8% (Rs 20) to Rs 1,124. However, Reliance and HLL bucked the falling trend, while the former gained 1.3% (Rs 7) at Rs 547, the latter finished 1.6% (Rs 2) higher at Rs 127.

HPCL plunged 2% (Rs 7) to Rs 326, and ONGC dropped a per cent to Rs 790.

SBI declined 2% (Rs 10) to Rs 480, and ICICI Bank was down Rs 2 at Rs 296. HDFC Bank, however, closed unchanged at Rs 430.

HDFC advanced 3.5% (Rs 23) to Rs 668.

While Bhel rallied 1.5% (Rs 9) to Rs 614, Larsen & Toubro dropped 1.3% (Rs 11) to Rs 849.

Tisco declined over a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 290, and Hindalco was down Rs 9 at Rs 1,360.

Auto

stocks, too, succumbed under the selling pressure. Hero Honda tumbled 3% (Rs 14) to Rs 431. Maruti and Tata Motors slipped 2.4% each to Rs 368 and Rs 427, respectively. Bajaj Auto was down a per cent (Rs 10) at Rs 1,017.

Grasim slumped 2.4% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,144. Gujarat Ambuja declined Rs 6 to Rs 355, and ACC ended a rupee lower at Rs 274.

Cipla and Dr.Reddy's shed 2% each to Rs 288 and Rs 746, respectively. Ranbaxy lost 1.5% (Rs 16) at Rs 1,076.

While Reliance Energy tripped 1.5% (Rs 10) to Rs 670, Tata Power lost 1.2% (Rs 4) at Rs 316.

Zee ended 2% (Rs 3) lower at Rs 156.