The Sensex opened 10 points lower at 4,919, and touched a low of 4,912 in early deals following weak trends in select counters. After recovering from its early loss, the markets moved with steady gains thereafter, before steep buying support in early noon deals lifted the index to an intra-day high of 4,956.

Although profit-taking in tech and other select old economy stocks stocks dragged the markets to a considerable extent by mid-noon deals, selective buying towards the closing hours saw the Sensex finally end with a gain of 27 points at 4,956.

The Nifty added nine points to close at 1,567.

While 21 Sensex stocks advanced, nine declined today. Advancing shares accounted for a volume of 2.54 crore for Rs 945.37 crore, and declining shares registered a volume of 96 lakh amounting to Rs 383.63 crore.

ITC notched up 2.24% gains (Rs 21) to Rs 960. While HLL closed up a rupee at Rs 129, Reliance ended up a tad at Rs 438.

BHEL added 2.34% (Rs 12) to Rs 536. While HPCL was up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 325, MTNL was up a rupee at Rs 136.

ONGC was up 1.43% (Rs 10) at Rs 699. SBI, however, ended weak with a loss of Rs 2 at Rs 437.

Dr. Reddy's moved up 3.27% (Rs 24) to Rs 774. While Ranbaxy jumped 2.19% (Rs 21) to Rs 968, Cipla closed up a rupee at Rs 229.

Grasim gained 1.55% (Rs 16) to Rs 1,050. While Gujarat Ambuja advanced 1.72% (Rs 5) to Rs 281, ACC was down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 242.

Hindalco rose 2.48% (Rs 27) to Rs 1,112. While HDFC mopped up 2.36% gains (Rs 13) to Rs 552, ICICI Bank was up 1.80% (Rs 4) at Rs 246. Tata Power (up Rs 4 or 1.47% to Rs 255) also ended at higher levels. Tisco closed up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 316.

Maruti ended with a surge of 2.72% (Rs 11) to Rs 420. While Tata Motors advanced 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 393, Hero Honda shed 1.78% (Rs 9) to Rs 519.

Infosys lost 2.40% (Rs 34) to Rs 1,392. While Wipro slumped 3% (Rs 16) to Rs 515, Satyam was down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 306.

Bharti, under sharp selling pressure towards the closing hours, ended with a loss of 3.21% (Rs 5) at Rs 145. Reliance Energy also ended weak at Rs 566 - down Rs 7 or 1.23%.