The Sensex has began Samvat on a optimistic note, hoping for better returns following a dismal Samvat 2064, in which the index collapsed over 55%.

The index opened with a positive gap of 447 points at 8,957 on the back of positive cues from the global markets. The Sensex moved in a range of 9,057 to 8,909, and finally ended with a gain of 499 points at 9,008.

Last year, the index had rallied over 38% from January till Muhurat trading day in 2007. On the day, the index shed 151 points, and went on to record the worst Samvat in history.

This year, the index has tumbled 58% so far, and today the index closed with a gain of almost 500 points.

The market breadth was extremely positive - out of 2,358 stocks traded, 1,860 advanced, 437 declined and the rest were unchanged today.

Shooting stars...

Mahindra & Mahidnra zoomed 12.7% to Rs 279. Jaiprakash Associates [Get Quote] soared 11.5% to Rs 60.

Hindalco [Get Quote] and Tata Motors [Get Quote] surged around 11% each to Rs 45 and Rs 155, respectively.

Reliance Infrastructure rallied 10.5% to Rs 438. DLF gained almost 10% at Rs 218.

...other Index movers

TCS [Get Quote] soared nearly 9% to Rs 541. Tata Steel [Get Quote] and Wipro [Get Quote] rallied 8.5% each to Rs 183 and Rs 239, respectively.

Grasim [Get Quote], Reliance Communications [Get Quote] and Bharti Airtel [Get Quote] surged around 8% each at Rs 1,029, Rs 216 and Rs 611, respectively.

Reliance, Sterlite, Larsen & Toubro and ACC moved up around 7% each to Rs 1,153, Rs 231, Rs 775 and Rs 443, respectively.

SBI [Get Quote], BHEL, Ranbaxy [Get Quote], ICICI Bank [Get Quote], HDFC [Get Quote] and Maruti [Get Quote] were up around 6% each.

Value and volume toppers

Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 86.15 crore followed by Reliance Capital [Get Quote] (Rs 30 crore), SBI (Rs 24.50 crore), Larsen & Toubro (Rs 24.50 crore) and Reliance Infrastructure (Rs 23.15 crore).

IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 42.35 lakh shares followed by Unitech (40.50 lakh), Suzlon Energy [Get Quote] (40 lakh), Hindalco (30.80 lakh) and Ispat Industries [Get Quote] (25.15 lakh).