Mumbai: The sensex opened firm but failed to maintain higher levels during morning trading on the Stock Exchange today (Apr 15, 2004) due to profit booking in key software stocks that had rallied sharply in the last session.

The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened up at 5923.84 as against Tuesday's (Apr 14, 2004) close of 5904.52 but later reacted negatively during late morning trading due to selling pressure and was quoted at 5904.13 at 10.30 hrs (IST).

Brokers said that public investors were seen booking profits in IT stocks that scored impressive gains during last session in response to announcement of encouraging guidance for 2004-05 despite sharp appreciation in rupee, by IT bellwether Infosys Technologies on Tuesday.

IT majors like Infosys Tech and Satyam Computers opened strong but later fell back sharply due to selling pressure.

Key counters like Infosys Tech, Satyam Computers, MTNL, SBI, ONGC, HPCL, HLL, Dr Reddy's Lab, BHEL and Bharti Tele showed substantial losses at early stages of the session.

However, Grasim, GACL, ACC, Bajaj Auto, RIL, Tata Motors and Wipro were quoted remarkably higher.