Following mixed cues from the global markets, the Sensex opened on a negative note at 14,843 - down 19 points. The index swung in and out of positive zone in early trades before the bulls stepped in.
Renewed buying interest in technology stocks set the tone for the day. The buying gained momentum in mid-noon trades as the markets discounted a rise in inflation and participants placed bets ahead of the earnings season next week.
The buying momentum was so strong that the Sensex zoomed past another landmark of 15,000 to touch a new all-time high of 15,007. Some profit-taking, thereafter, saw the index pare gains, and the index eventually closed with a gain of 102 poins at 14,964. The NSE Nifty ended at 4385, up 31 points.
The market breadth was positive - out of 2,661 stocks traded, 1,468 advanced, 1,111 declined and 82 were unchanged on Friday.
Tech Stocks Lead...
Satyam zoomed 5.4% to Rs 489, and TCS soared 4.5% to Rs 1,159. Wipro and Infosys surged 3% each to Rs 519 and Rs 1,971, respectively.
HDFC Bank and ACC rallied around 2% each to Rs 1,153 and Rs 1,041, respectively.
NTPC, Larsen & Toubro and Ambuja Cements moved up 1.7% each to Rs 155, Rs 2,370 and Rs 131, respectively.
Bharti Airtel gained 1.4% at Rs 865. Hero Honda, Grasim, Reliance Energy, Reliance Communications and Bajaj Auto were up over 1% each at Rs 698, Rs 2,780, Rs 598, Rs 551 and Rs 2,110, respectively.
ICICI Bank shed 2.4% to Rs 982. Cipla and Maruti dropped almost 2% each to Rs 212 and Rs 790, respectively.
Value And Volume Toppers
Vishal Retail topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 495 crore followed by ICICI Bank (Rs 320 crore), DLF (Rs 318 crore), Akruti Nirman (Rs 228 crore) and IFCI (Rs 195.25 crore).
IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 3.18 crore shares followed by G V Films (1.08 crore), Silverline (73.60 lakh), Bellary Steel (69 lakh) and Vishal Retail (68.25 lakh).
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