As many as 17,521 shares changed hands on the BSE.

The scrip had remained flat in November and December last year. It was only after 6 January 2006 that the scrip moved. From Rs 192.80 on 6 January 2006, it rallied 32.54% in three trading sessions to reach Rs 255.55 on 12 January, only to fall to Rs 217.85 by 18 January 2006. The next day, the scrip jumped to Rs 251.90 only to lose steam and close at Rs 209.55 by 2 February. Thereafter, the scrip rose steadily to Rs 225 by 13 February and then dipped to close at Rs 200.05 on 24 February 2006.

Punjab Chemicals & Crop Protection has announced that it has acquired 100 equity in Chiplun-based IA & IC Chem for approximately Rs 46 lakh.

The acquisition of the factory will help Punjab Chemicals to launch new herbicides and fungicides.

Punjab Chemicals posted a net profit of Rs 2.50 crore for the quarter ended December 2005, a 16.8% rise compared with the same quarter previous year. The net sales, however, declined by 9.1% to Rs 42.54 crore compared with the same period last year.

The company was incorporated in 1975 as a joint venture between Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation and Excel Industries. It specializes in manufacturing agro-chemicals of high-quality.