Following overnight gains on the US bourses, the Sensex resumed firm with a gain of 15 points at 6,461. Buoyancy in the market continued in early trades as across-the-board buying support saw the index zoom past the 6500-mark to touch an intra-day high of 6,538 - up 91 points over the previous close.
A steady positive trend prevailed in the market thereafter till mid-noon trades as most of the counters moved in a narrow range on lack of fresh buying support. However, most of the gains were squeezed towards the closing hours of the trading session as emergence of profit-taking dragged the index to a low of 6,460.
The Sensex finally ended the session with a gain of 32 points at 6,479. The Nifty, too, came off its early highs to finish eight points higher at 1,991.
Infosys, taking a cue from its overnight gains, advanced 2.70% (Rs 55) to Rs 2,098. Wipro (up Rs 7 to Rs 657) and Satyam (up Rs 7 or 1.60% to Rs 441) shed some gains on profit-taking.
ITC clocked a per cent gain (Rs 15) to Rs 1,500. While Reliance slipped a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 524, ONGC ended on a lacklustre note at Rs 856 - down Rs 3.
HDFC Bank at Rs 537 (up Rs 2) and ICICI Bank at Rs 393 (up Rs 2)
Bajaj notched up 4.90% gains (Rs 58) to Rs 1,243. Hero Honda at Rs 561 (up Rs 4) ended with a per cent gain. Tata Motors and Maruti were down a tad each at Rs 436 and Rs 446, respectively.
Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja were up a per cent each at Rs 1,130 (up Rs 7) and Rs 444 (up Rs 5), respectively. ACC, however, ended down a notch at Rs 381.
Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy's and Cipla ended weak at Rs 967, Rs 681 and Rs 277, respectively.
L&T was up a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,046, while Bharti added 1.21% (Rs 3) to Rs 217. HPCL lost 1.85% (Rs 6) to Rs 320, and HDFC declined a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 758. Reliance Energy shed 1.30% (Rs 6) to Rs 481.
