Sensex closes at 6,304, up 43 points

The Sensex crossed the 6,300-mark in a late rally on Thursday, and finished on a firm note with a gain of 43 points at 6,304.

The index moved in a range of 78 points - low of 6,241 and high of 6,319 - with 20 scrips logging gains and 10 declining today.

The Nifty was up 13 points at 1,991.

SBI advanced more than 2% (Rs 12) to Rs 605. ITC moved up Rs 11 to Rs 1,277. Infosys was up marginally (Rs 10) at Rs 2,041. Reliance gained Rs 4 to Rs 512. HLL declined nearly 3.6% (Rs 5) to Rs 146.

Cement scrips finished with gains. ACC advanced more than 3% (Rs 10) to Rs 315. While Gujarat Ambuja was up Rs 6 at Rs 385, Grasim gained 2% (Rs 24) to Rs 1,212.

Auto

stocks logged gains today. Maruti zoomed nearly 5% (Rs 20) to Rs 445. Tata Motors was up more than a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 489. Bajaj Auto was up a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 1,030. Hero Honda, however, was down a rupee at Rs 489.

PSU scrips attracted fresh buying support. BHEL moved up more than 2% (Rs 15) to Rs 667, and HPCL was up Rs 7 at Rs 382.

HDFC moved up 3% (Rs 22) to Rs 777. Bharti continued adding gains, and was up 2% (Rs 4) at Rs 193. ICICI Bank was also up 2% (Rs 6) at Rs 364. Ranbaxy was up Rs 16 at Rs 1,218.