A late bout of buying in techs and selective gains in cement, pharma, heavyweights and media major Zee saw the Sensex finally finish with a gain of 17 points at 3,630. The Nifty, too, finished higher at 1,146 - up five points.

Tech pivotals closed firm on sustained buying support. Infosys rallied sharply on renewed buying support and logged 5% gains (Rs 150) to Rs 3,241. While HCL Tech advanced 6% (Rs 9) to Rs 156, Satyam rose 3% (Rs 5) to Rs 192.

ITC held on to its gains and moved up a per cent (Rs 10) to Rs 775. HLL closed up a rupee at Rs 169, but Reliance slipped into the red to close with a loss of Rs 3 at Rs 326.

HPCL lost Rs 4 to Rs 353, and MTNL was down a rupee at Rs 114. SBI, too, finished in the slipstream at Rs 384 - down Rs 3. BHEL, however, added Rs 3 to Rs 283 after trading in negative zone for better part of the trading session.

Zee ended firm with gains of 4% (Rs 4) to Rs 99 on sustained buying interest.