BSE Sensex choppy; Reliance Industries, DLF drop

People watch a large screen displaying India's benchmark share index on the...

The BSE Sensex was trading 0.2 percent lower on Thursday ahead of the expiry of monthly derivatives contracts and subdued cues from Asian markets.

Energy major Reliance Industries<RELI.BO> dropped 0.5 percent after sliding 3.1 percent in the previous session, and traders said they were cautious of the near-term trend.

"A lot of short positions are being rolled over in Reliance Industries, indicating a bearish outlook," said Kunal Sukhani, manager of institutional equities at Asian Markets Securities.

The stock, which has the heaviest weight on the main BSE index, has come under pressure following a delay in the company's plan to reach full gas output from its field off India's east coast.

The oil secretary said late on Wednesday Reliance would be able to pump natural gas at full capacity from its deep-sea field during the year to March 2013, indicating a delay of almost two years.

By 11:09 a.m., the 30-share BSE index was trading down 0.2 percent at 17,921.28 points, with 19 of its components declining.

"Market is volatile because of derivatives expiry," said Sukhani, referring to the monthly contracts on the National Stock Exchange.

DLF<DLF.BO> dropped 1.4 percent after the largest listed property developer's 3.8 percent rise in quarterly profit failed to cheer investors.

Param Desai, a research analyst with Angel Broking, said the profit was tad below expectation as interest and depreciation costs weighed.

Financials were mixed as near-term monetary tightening fears weighed, but the demand for loan outlook was seen higher on the back of robust economic growth.

A Reuters poll showed the central bank was likely to raise rates more aggressively in the rest of the fiscal year, after tightening policy more than expected on Tuesday.

Top lender State Bank of India dropped 1.2 percent while rivals ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank were up 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent respectively.

Foreign funds have invested $9.2 billion in Indian equities so far this year and has helped the benchmark index gain 2.6 percent in the period.

In the broader market, gainers and losers were almost equal in number on volume of 113 million shares.

The 50-share NSE index was down 0.2 percent at 5,387.25.

Elsewhere, the MSCI's measure of Asian markets other than Japan was barely changed while Japan's Nikkei was down 0.7 percent.

STOCKS ON THE MOVE

* HCL Technologies was up 2.8 percent at 383.25 rupees after the software services firm said quarterly net income rose marginally as demand for outsourcing increased.

* Hexaware Technologies dropped 1.5 percent to 83.40 rupees as its April-June net profit slumped 63.5 percent.

MAIN TOP THREE BY VOLUME

* Aster Silicates on 9.5 million shares

* Karuturi Global on 4.2 million shares

* Shree Ashtavinayak on 2.3 million shares

(For more business news on Reuters India click http://in.reuters.com)

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