Mumbai: The SENSEX opened firm and later remained trapped in a small range in keeping with continuous narrow movements at early stages on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 22 on renewed buying support from operators.

The BSE Sensitive Index opened firm at 3,555.38 as against March 21 close of 3,536.26 and later fluctuated in a range between 3,555.38 and 3,526.78 before being quoted at 3,535.72 at 10.30 am (IST).

Key counters like RIL, Zee Telefilms, L&T, HPCL and BSES were quoted substantially lower due to fresh selling pressure.

Foreign Institutional Investors and local operators, which have shifted their focus to side stocks, seemed to be good buyers in second-line stocks like GSFC, Chennai Petro, Voltas, Escorts and a few others.

Upward trend in heavyweights like Infosys Tech, HLL and Satyam Computers was well supported the SENSEX recovery.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index moved further up by about 36 points on March 21 night while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed in the red, off 21.73 points.

PTI