The year 2009 started on a positive note with the benchmark Sensex gaining by over 73 points during the opening trade on hopes of further decline in the inflationary figures and firming trends on the worldwide markets.

The Bombay Stock Exchange barometer, which lost 68.85 points on the last session of 2008, gained 73.24 points at 9,720.55 points in the opening trade with all the sectoral indices, led by metal consumer durables and realty, trading in the positive zone.

The Midcap barometer has moved up by 1.5%, while the Smallcap index has came up by 1.76%.

Stock market analysts have maintained ‘buy’ rating on ONGC stock with an intraday target of Rs 680.

According to analysts, interested traders can purchase the stock above Rs 665 with a strict stop loss of Rs 652. If the stock market remains on positive track, the stock pricing becomes more attractive, and reach above Rs 696.

After opening the day positively, the 30-share index Sensex continued its positive run on the back of heavy buying activity witnessed in frontline stocks.

Metals, consumer goods and realty stocks gained ground.

All sectoral indices went up, while BSE Midcap and Smallcap index gained 1.61% and 1.66% respectively.

Today, the BSE Sensex started the day at 9,806.64, up 90.48 points, as against its previous closure in which it gained 182.64 points at 9716.16.

After previous close at Rs 160.60, Stayam Computer Services is currently trading Rs 12 up at Rs 172.60 i.e. 7.47% up at BSE on Dec 31 at 12:01 pm.

The stock closed at Rs 160.70 yesterday (Dec 30), but it is currently trading Rs 12.25 up at 172.95 i.e. 7.62% up at NSE on Dec 31 at 12:11 pm.

The stock still has great potential to go up. It is advised to hold the stock.

Portfolio Manager, PN Vijay said reckons that above Rs 205, Satyam can touch Rs 217.

Indian equities belled the day (Monday, Dec 29) on a weak note because of negative global cues.

Select FMCG, pharma, metal and oil stocks went up, while realty stocks slipped on selling pressure.

There were huge losses for a variety of stocks from auto, capital goods, information technology, power and banking sectors as well.

BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap stocks remain quite subdued this morning.

At 10:26 a.m., the BSE Sensex, which opened with a small negative gap at 9318.86, stood at 9204.97, down 123.95 points.

The BSE Sensex lost a further 240 points to close at 9,329, thus sliding for the fourth consecutive session. The weekly sensex loss was taken to 771 points or 7.6% by the Friday's fall. Due to the day's slide, the investor's lost up to Rs 53, 000 crores with BSE market capitalization now at Rs 30.1 lakh crore.

It has also been learnt that the advance tax collections for the quarter were 22% less on a yearly basis. According to the market players, the government's announcement that advance tax collections were lower pointed to lower profitability for the corporates and hence the slide in the market.