The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 11 points 6,280, which turned out to be the low for the day. Sustained buying across-the-board saw the index touch a high of 6,331. The Sensex finally closed on a firm note with a gain of 57 points at 6,325.

The Nifty was up 22 points at 2,007.

While 27 Sensex scrips advanced with a volume of 1.31 crore shares totalling Rs 619 crore, three declined with a volume of nine lakh shares for Rs 22 crore.

ITC was up nearly a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,279. ONGC was up more than a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 846. SBI was also up more than a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 603. Infosys gained Rs 13 to Rs 2,051. Reliance was up Rs 3 at Rs 505, and HLL was up a rupee at Rs 145.

Bharti zoomed 4.6% (Rs 9) to Rs 200. BHEL advanced nearly 3% (Rs 18) to Rs 703. Grasim gained 2% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,237. HDFC was up more than a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 788. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Satyam, Wipro, Reliance Energy, Tata Power, Hindalco and L&T also finished with gains.

Hero Honda vaulted nearly 5% (Rs 23) to Rs 515. Maruti and Tata Motors gained Rs 5 each to Rs 441 and Rs 487, respectively. Bajaj Auto was up Rs 4 at Rs 1,024.

Dr. Reddy's was up Rs 6 at Rs 818. Cipla and Ranbaxy also finished with gains.

Zee was down Rs 2 at Rs 160. Gujarat Ambuja and HPCL were marginally lower today.