Sensex suffers moderate loss of 11 pts

Snapping two days of gains, the BSE benchmark Sensex today erased early gains to end the day with a moderate loss of 11 points at 18,506.57 on investor concerns over economic reforms as Parliament had adjourned for the second day, amid government kick-starting disinvestment plans.

Fall in blue-chip stocks ITC, ICICI Bank, NTPC, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, GAIL India, Cipla and SBI mainly kept the market under pressure after morning session.

However, rise in RIL, HUL, TCS, HDFC and Tata Motors limited the downslide.

Meanwhile, the government's 4 per cent stake sale in Hindustan Copper was over-subscribed, marking the start of ambitious Rs 30,000-crore disinvestment programme.

Shares of Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL), however, were battered and ended with a heavy loss of 20 per cent from its last close.

Market players attributed the fall to huge 41 per cent discount offered in share sale. The government had yesterday set a base price at Rs 155 a share in Hindustan Copper, a 41 per cent discount over yesterday's close price.

Tracking Asian cues, the BSE barometer resumed better and touched a high of 18,556.50 in morning deals.

Later, it started to decline and dropped to a low of 18,402.38 when the news of adjournment of Lok Sabha for the second day of Winter session after an uproar over FDI and other issues.

Finally,it closed at 18,506.57, revealing a fall of 10.77 points or 0.06 pct. In the last two days, the Sensex had risen by 188.02 points or 1.03 per cent.

"The winter session of Parliament began but no business was transacted in the first two days, raising concerns over the fate of various Bills which are proposed to be presented and passed in the session," said Dipen Shah, Head of PCG Research, Kotak Securities.

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