Discouraged by the absence of foreign funds, who seemed to be awaiting a clear picture about the forthcoming budget proposals, bull operators, as usual, squared off their long positions at the last day of the current settlement. Monday's holiday at BSE on account of ``Buddha Poornima'' (the National Stock Exchange would remain open) was another factor that prompted squaring offoutstanding positions as bulls would have to suffer losses if the prices dropped further on the NSE. Dealers said the market might start better on Tuesday in spite of last trading day on the NSE, but the activity would be at a low ebb next week. ``Operators, however, will pull the market up by about 250 points before the Union Budget to be presented on June 1 to get clear of their commitments'', dealers said. Raymond, Smithkline Pharma, Larsen & Toubro and Nestle recorded moderate gains on fresh buying support.The BSE-200 and the dollex were quoted remarkably down at 401.36 and 167.98 compared to Wednesday's close of 406.90 and 170.30 respectively. ITC remained the most active scrip with a turnover of Rs 184.14 crore of the total volume of business of Rs 1140.23 crore. Other top scrips were Tata Tea (Rs 74.03 crore), Satyam Computer (Rs 69.27 crore), SBI (Rs 49.63 crore) and Pentafour Software (Rs 44.87 crore). ITC dipped by Rs 5.25 to Rs 783.75. SBIf was down by Rs 5.80 to Rs 276.80, Reliance Ind by Rs 1.30to Rs 189.20, Telco by Rs 5.70 to Rs 273.30, Hind Lever by Rs 19 to Rs 1610, Tata Tea by Rs 16 to Rs 381.25 and Satyam Comp by Rs 2.75 to Rs 493. However, Pentafour Software edged up by Rs 3.75 to Rs 906.50.