The news of Pentafour Software having struck up a partnership with Stan Lee Media, the media company run by the creator of popular comic book characters like Spiderman, saw the bulls strengthening their grip at the counter. Stan Lee Media will contract Pentafour Software for content creation services, which according to analysts will help Pentafour not only emerge as the cheapest software multimedia company available on the Indian bourses but will also help earn a substantial chunk of revenue in the next quarter. The news helped the stock breach the crucial barrier of Rs 1,000 to close at Rs 1,003.75 on NSE and Rs 1,011 on BSE. On account of the price filter, the counter witnessed a nominal volume of 13.17 lakh shares on NSE and about 19.57 lakh shares on BSE. However, at the circuit price, the stock witnessed a pending buy order of 1.88 lakh shares on NSE.

Infotech, up as usual: ``Infotech companies are the only Indian companies which have rewarded its investorswith multiple bonus, '' said a BSE broker in the light of the ex-bonus prices at which stocks like Infosys and NIIT are trading on the bourses. Infosys issued a bonus of 1:1, while NIIT issued a bonus of 1:2. On Wednesday Infosys closed at Rs 3,376.05 and NIIT at Rs 2,302.15 after touching an intra-day's high of Rs 2,520. The stocks are currently trading near their cum-bonus prices. However according to market sources, at these levels Morgan Stanley booked huge profits at the Infosys counter.

Institutional transactions:

Big Daddy, as market observers call UTI, was reportedly an aggressive buyer at counters like Reliance, FDC and ITC Agro. However, SBI MF was reported to have sold heavily at the counters of select FMCG and pharma counters like E-Merck, Nestle and Rhone Poulenc. Among the FIIs, Morgan Stanley and CSFB were rumoured to have sold at the counters of Hero Honda and Knoll Pharma. The Canbank Offshore Fund was rumoured to have placed an order to buy 75,000 shares of ACC and 10 lakh shares ofITC. Warburg Pinctus Fund is rumoured to have bought 5 lakh Pentafour and a UK-based FII is believed to have placed a buy order for 1 lakh shares of Rhone Poulenc and 1 lakh shares of Hoechst Marion Russel. Jardine Fleming is rumoured to have bought 50-60,000 shares of Aptech and Morgan Stanley is reported to have sold 3-4 lakh shares of ITC. Big daddy was very active in IT stocks and was rumoured to have bought NIIT, Aptech, Infosys and CMC.

Rhone Poulenc, a strong prescription: The stock is fairly under priced at current levels of Rs 1,153 and hit the circuit today, said a BSE broker. "We expect the company to give the long overdue bonus of 2:1 and with the worldwide merger there is a lot of buying happening in this counter. The counter is expected to touch Rs 2,000 in the next 15 days", he added.

Tata Honeywell, alls well that ends well: Tata Honeywell, which closed Rs 15 higher than its previous close, is a very good buy at current market prices, said a fund manager. According to him,the company has bagged a huge order from Reliance Petroleum and is a very good buy even though there is low liquidity in the scrip. The scrip is slated to go up higher from today's close of Rs 160.