Mumbai: Banking counters were in the limelight at the opening session in an otherwise lacklustre activity on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on February 12 on renewed buying by operators as well as retail investors.

The BSE-30 share Sensitive Index opened firm at 3266.26 from overnight levels of 3261.47 and was trapped in a narrow range of 3268.39 and 3251.66 before being quoted at 3264.67 at 10:30 hours (IST).

Oil majors HPCL and BPCL continued to be in good demand on institutional buying.

Software shares displayed a mixed pattern of trading on alternate bouts of buying and selling.

Dealers said all eyes are now set on the weapons inspector Hans Blix's second report to the UN on February 14, till then the operators have decided to sit on the fence and play safe.

PTI