The Stock Market Closed at 17878.81, down with 1.6% The index touched a high and a low of 18,259.61 and 18,259.61, respectively. While Nifty index settled at 5373.70, down with 1.3%, The index touched high of 5,483.05 and a low of 5,366.40, respectively.

The 50-share S&P CNX Nifty finally settled at 5,373.70 after losing 72.95 points or 1.34%. Nifty March 2011 futures closed at 5,383.00 at a premium of 9.30 over spot closing of 5,373.70, while Nifty April 2011 futures were at 5,410.00 at a premium of 36.30 points over spot closing. The near month March 2011 derivatives contract expires on Thursday, March 31, 2011. Nifty March futures saw an addition of 16.77% or 3.78 million (mn) units, taking the total outstanding open interest (OI) to 26.33 mn units.

For Nifty calls, 5500 strike price (SP) from the March series was the most active call with an addition of 1.92 mn or 25.38%. Among Nifty puts, 5400 SP from the March month expiry was the most active put with a contraction of 0.86 mn or 9.39%. The maximum Call OI outstanding was at 5500 SP (9.49) and that for Puts at 5500 SP( 8.35). The respective Support and Resistance levels are: Resistance 5,449.03 --Pivot Point 5,407.71--Support 5,332.38. The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) OI wise stood at 1.07 for March-month contracts.