The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 14 points at 5,432. After slipping to an intra-day low of 5,407 in early deals, the index switched between positive and negative zone and remained range-bound till early noon deals as buying was stock-specific.
Buying emerged in afternoon trades and picked momentum towards the closing hours as renewed buying in PSUs, techs, cement and select heavyweights lifted the index to an intra-day high of 5,466.
The Sensex, however, on a last-minute correction in tech stocks, settled with a gain of 37 points at 5,455. The Nifty gained 23 points to close at 1,756.
HPCL rose around 6% (Rs 23) to Rs 433 on the news of interim dividend. While BHEL advanced 2% (Rs 10) to Rs 468, MTNL rose 3% to Rs 123. SBI was up Rs 3 at Rs 479.
L&T (up Rs 25 or 6% to Rs 460), Grasim (up Rs 21 or 2% to Rs 951) and Gujarat Ambuja (up Rs 5 or 2% to Rs 300) ended with sharp gains after a weak opening session. ACC, too, after languishing in negative territory for better part of the trading session, clocked a per cent gain (Rs 3) to Rs 228 on renewed buying support.
Tata Motors and Hero Honda spurted 2% each to Rs 433 (up Rs 10) and Rs 398 (up Rs 8), respectively. Bajaj, however, remained weak through the session, and closed down a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,081.
Infosys slipped from higher levels and ended with a marginal loss of Rs 2 at Rs 5,120. The tech major during the early hours of trading session announced the acquisition of Expert Information Services, Australia (Expert) subject to standard closing conditions.
Wipro held gains and gained a per cent (Rs 19) to Rs 1,679. Satyam closed down a rupee at Rs 351.
ITC witnessed selling in its counter, and lost 2% (Rs 21) to Rs 987. HLL closed down a rupee at Rs 199. Reliance, however, firmed up in afternoon deals, and closed up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 506.
ONGC shot up 5% (Rs 36) to Rs 712 on sustained buying support. While Tisco logged 3% gains (Rs 12) to Rs 396, Zee, too, moved up 3% (Rs 5) to close at Rs 147.
Cipla and Ranbaxy were down Rs 5 each at Rs 1,213 and Rs 1,106, respectively. Dr. Reddy's, however, added a per cent (Rs 14) to Rs 1,362.
