The capital market benchmark index Sensex opened the year with a fall of 30 points in the absence of major triggers and lack of trading interest among large foreign institutional investors.

Opening on a positive note at 21,222 against the previous close of 21,171, Sensex dipped to the day’s low of 21,134 and touched a high of 21,244 before closing at 21,140. The turnover on BSE was down 13 per cent at Rs 1,439 crore against Rs 1,646 crore registered on Tuesday.

The Sensex gained two per cent or 378.75 points in December. The index was up nine per cent or 1,744 points last year. From a 52-week low of 17,448.71 on August 28, the Sensex has risen 3,722 points while it was down 313 points from the record high of 21,484 hit on December 3.

On the NSE, Nifty slipped two points to 6,302.

Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday gained 0.43 per cent to Rs 948 after the company announced that its tractor sales were up 15 per cent to 17,037 units in December.

Gujarat Gas Company was up 3 per cent to Rs 276 as the company announced details of the gas supply contracts executed earlier with Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation for supply of re-gassified LNG.

Losers were Coromandel Intl (-3%), Indian Oil Corp (-3%), CRISIL (-2%), Apollo Tyres (-2%) and Cummins India (-2%).

Major gainers include Suzlon Energy (10%), Reliance Comm (7%), Uco Bank (7%), Indiabulls Real Est (6%), Motherson Sumi (5%), JP INFRATEC (5%), IRB Infra (4%) and HDIL (4%).

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