Mumbai: Oil & Gas shares were the star performer at opening session on the Stock Exchange, Mumbai, (BSE) on May 30, on sustained buying by institutional investors and operators.

Oil and Gas counters mainly from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) segment like IBP, HPCL, IOC, BPCL, ONGC, GAIL, Chennai Petro and Kochi Refinery continued to be in good demand on frenzied buying by foreign as well as local funds.

Key old-economy blue-chips like RIL, Telco, ACC, GACL and L&T too were in keen demand and quoted higher.

The BSE-30 share sensitive index opened firm at 3172.05 as against May 29 close of 3164.25 and moved in a range of 3186.86 and 3158.74 before being quoted at 3180.41 at 10 45 hours

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were aggressive buyers in old-economy blue-chips and reportedly purchased shares worth Rs 300.00 crore on the first three days of the current week.

Tisco attracted good buying enquiries for the second successive day on encouraging working results, which was announced onMay 29.

Among major gainers, IBP spurted by 11.53 per cent, Thermax by 10.30 per cent, Essel Propack by 9.35 per cent, HOEC by 7.53 per cent, IOC by 7.51 percent, India Cement by 6.43 per cent, ONGC by 5.72 per cent, IDBI Bank by 5.43 per cent and BPCL by 5.31 per cent.

However, Dredging Corp declined by 7.60 per cent, Bata India by 4.11 per cent, Aventis Pharma by 2.85 per cent, Nirma by 2.81 per cent and HDFC by 1.44 per cent.

PTI