Mumbai: The Sensex opened on a promising note and later fluctuated in a narrow range of about 30 points during morning trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today (Dec10, 2003) on selective buying by investors.

The BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) Benchmark 30-share Index opened moderately higher at 5234.72 as against yesterday's close of 5229.34 and later moved in a range between 5253.33 and 5220.60 in keeping with scrip-specific activity. The Sensex was quoted at 5245.90 at 10.30 am.

After an overnight sharp rally, ITC remained in the forefront scoring impressive gains on sustained purchases by institutional investors.

Discounting marginal net sales by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and domestic mutual funds, market sources said the market is expected to remain upbeat with positive outlook on both economic and political fronts.

Key stocks like SBI (State Bank of India), ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), RIL (Reliance Industries Ltd), L&T (Larson and Turbo) and Tisco were quoted remarkably higher on fresh buying support.

However, Satyam Computers, Tata Motors and Infosys Technologies showed moderate falls.

Among the top gainers, Dredging Corporation were quoted up by 7.07 per cent, Jindal Iron by 5.32 per cent, MRF by 5.12 per cent, GlaxoCon by 4.34 per cent, Aurobindo Pharma by 4.22 per cent, Indo- Rama by 4.06 per cent, Bombay Dyeing by 3.40 per cent, GNFC (Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company) by 3.38 per cent, HFCL (Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd) by 3.09 per cent and Chennai Petro by 3.07 per cent.

PTI