Mumbai: The SENSEX opened moderately up but later moved in an extremely narrow range during the first half of the session in line with mixed pattern of trading at early stages on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on May 6 on alternate bouts of buying and selling.

The BSE Sensitive Index opened marginally up at 3,386.01 as against a close of 3,380.61 on May 3 and later fluctuated in a range between 3,394.89 and 3,379.91 before being quoted at 3,379.91 at 12:30 hours (IST).

Dealers said that key old economy counters like HLL, ACC, RIL, BHEL, HPCL and some others met with scattered support from local operators and retail investors while IT stocks suffered a mild setback due to selling pressure.

Operators and retail investors were cautious in the light of net sales position of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) coupled with fresh reports of communal violence in Gujarat state, they added.

PTI