The Sensex was extremely volatile in early trades. After opening eight points higher at 6,367, the index soon eased on profit-taking to touch the day's low of 6,334.
While the markets staged a decent recovery on selective buying, it displayed a range-bound trend thereafter before re-slipping into the red in afternoon trades on fresh selling pressure.
The markets witnessed a steep rise in late trades as frenzied buying support in most of the counters saw the index surge past the 6,400-mark to touch an intra-day high of 6,404.
The Sensex finally wrapped up the session with a gain of 29 points at 6,388. The Nifty, too, firmed up towards the closing hours and gained 14 points to 1,977.
Reliance moved up 1.51% (Rs 8) to Rs 549. While ITC surged 1.81% (Rs 26) to Rs 1,441, HLL was marginally down at Rs 134.
Zee zoomed 5.85% (Rs 8) to Rs 150, while HPCL advanced 2.13% (Rs 7) to Rs 334. Hindalco at Rs 1,217 (up Rs 16 or 1.34%) also ended with strong gains.
Infosys jumped 1.23% (Rs 25) to Rs 2,021. While Satyam was up a rupee at Rs 414, Wipro ended a tad lower at Rs 637.
SBI ended with a rupee gain at Rs 617. While HDFC Bank lost a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 542, ICICI Bank was down a tad at Rs 377.
ACC rose 1.77% (Rs 7) to Rs 377. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja gained a per cent each to Rs 1,150 (up Rs 10) and Rs 430 (up Rs 4), respectively.
Maruti flared up nearly 4% (Rs 16) to Rs 433, and Tata Motors added 1.27% (Rs 5) to Rs 425. Bajaj and Hero Honda ended with steady gains at Rs 1,114 and Rs 540, respectively.
Ranbaxy tumbled 2.77% (Rs 27) to Rs 957, while Dr. Reddy's slipped a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 666. Cipla, however, added 1.91% (Rs 5) to Rs 272.
L&T slumped 2.43% (Rs 25) to Rs 1,009. Tata Power and Tisco ended marginally lower at Rs 357 and Rs 354, respectively.