Sensex ends lower after touching 6,000
Mumbai: The Sensex touched 6,000 at the opening of Moorat trading on the BSE on Friday but could not stay at this level, and the 90-minute truncated trading day closed with the index almost flat.

When the markets opened at 5.30 p.m, the Sensex zoomed to touch 6,001.99 barely minutes into the opening bell. Almost immediately, the index moved southwards, hovering around 5,980 levels. Trading ended with the Sensex up 9.70 points at 5,964.01.

On the NSE, the Nifty demonstrated a similar pattern, touching the day's high of 1,884.75 within two minutes and 10 seconds of trading. The index could not uphold this level for over two minutes and dipped below 1,880. The index closed the session at 1,872.95, up two points.

Mid-cap stocks continued to outperform the main indices in both the markets. Volumes and closing gains posted at the end of the day in mid-cap stocks were significantly higher than blue chips and other market heavyweights.

The NSE's CNX Midcap 200 touched a high of 2,160.20 before closing at 2,155.25.

Steel, cement, IT and banking sectors continued to be in favour with market participants while refinery, chemical, oil and gas, steel and banking scrips were also in demand. IT scrips did not see heavy buys.
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Oil stocks hit on profit booking
New Delhi: ONGC, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum stocks saw a sharp fall on Thursday as the Sensex reached within striking distance of the 6000-level. Oil heavyweights dipped by up to 4 percent on profit booking.
Smaller refinery companies like Bongaigaon Refineries, Chennai Petroleum, Kochi Refineries and Mangalore Refineries also saw sharp correction of 1-8 per cent during the day.

Oil sector stocks have been rising in the month so far. Bharat Petroleum shot up 17.62 per cent this month and Hindustan Petroleum has surged 12.1 per cent. Indian Oil has spurted 8 per cent since October 29.

ONGC lost 1.3 per cent leading to a decline in the benchmark BSE Sensex during the second half of the day. ONGC closed the day at Rs815 down by Rs10.75. Bongaigaon Refineries lost by 7.57 percent on Thursday, the biggest loser during the day as it closed at Rs98.35. Indian Oil also slid 3.84 per cent to close the day at Rs466.2. Share prices of standalone refinery companies, Chennai Petroleum and Kochi Refineries, also declined close to 2 per cent each as the stock ended the day at Rs239 and Rs208.25, while Mangalore Refineries closed the day with 1 per cent loss at Rs 44.5
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HPCL and BPCL closed the day down 0.92 per cent and 0.35 per cent at Rs345.05 and Rs407.5, respectively.
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SEBI imposes fine on Zandu Pharma
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has slapped a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Zandu Pharmaceuticals Works for failing to appoint a common share agency for demat and physical shares.

SEBI in its adjudication order said the penalty has been imposed under depository participant regulations,

On December 8, 2003 SEBI had appointed an officer to inquire into and adjudge the alleged contravention.
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