The Hindu Business Line : FMCG, consumer durables stocks lead rally

After slipping by over 400 points earlier this week, the Sensex ended in the positive territory logging gains of 95.32 points during the day's trading. Though the trading was volatile, the market breadth was fairly healthy.

The advances to declines ratio stood at 1.7, with 1,584 stocks appreciating in value while 927 stocks registered declines. FIIs (combined turnover on BSE and NSE) remained net sellers to the tune of Rs 172.31 crore in the cash markets.

The Sensex ended on a buoyant note with 22 out of the 30 stocks ending in green.

Sector focus

Among the BSE Sectoral Indices, the key gainers during the day were FMCG, consumer durables and capital goods. The sectors that lagged the broad markets were auto, banking and metals.

In the FMCG category, the prominent gainers during the day were Hindustan Lever, ITC, Marico and United Breweries.

In the capital goods segment, the key gainers were Bharat Bijlee, Kirloskar Brothers and Crompton Greaves.

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In the S&P CNX Nifty, the prominent gainers during the day were HCL Technologies, Zee Telefilms, BPCL, TCS and Hindustan Lever.

The stocks that lost value were HDFC Bank, HPCL, Bajaj Auto and Hindalco.

In the Junior Nifty, the key gainers during the day were banking stocks such as Vijaya Bank and Union Bank, apart from Chennai Petroleum, Reliance Capital and Apollo Tyres.

The key losers were Ashok Leyland, TVS Motors, Bank of India and UTI Bank. Clearly a mixed picture emerged on the banking front, but key stocks stock shed value. IT also represented a mixed picture with bigwigs such as TCS and HCL Technologies gaining while Infosys shed value.

Outside the broad indices, the major gainers were Sakthi Sugars, MRO-TEK, Sobha Developers and Jayshree Tea. The key losers were Nahar Exports, Renuka Sugars, Lanco Infra, Voltas and IBP.

Stock specific action

The Paradyne Infotech stock appreciated by Rs 4.65 to settle for the day at Rs 92.60. The stock also witnessed a four-fold rise in volumes to 46,703 shares.

The movement in the stock price has to be seen in the context of the acquisition of LGI Inc, Virginia for $4.75 million in an all-cash deal.

The Man Industries stock shot up by Rs 13.55 to settle at Rs 199.50. The trading volumes also shot up from 32,690 shares on Wednesday's trading to 1.67 lakh shares during the day.

The uptrend has to be viewed in the light of the $225 million order bagged from the US. Following this order, the company's order book stands at Rs 2,200 crore.

The Titan Industries also perked up by Rs 17.3 to close for the day at Rs 828.80. The trading volumes, however, slipped from 3.06 lakh shares on Wednesday to 1.05 lakh shares during the day.

The uptrend has to be viewed in the light of the company's decision to launch its third new business of Optical Eye-wear under the name of Titan Eye+.