The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 22 points at 3,911, and moved up with steady gains in morning trades. After touching the day's low of 3,874 on profit-taking in old and new economy stocks in early afternoon deals, the index bounced and remained firm thereafter on renewed buying in heavyweights, PSUs and cement stocks.

After touching the day's high of 3,936, the Sensex finally settled with a gain of 37 points at 3,926. The Nifty also advanced 12 points to close at 1,247.

While 21 Sensex stocks advanced, nine declined today. The traded volume and value totalled at 2.52 crore and Rs 726.43 crore, respectively.

Heavyweights and PSUs ended at higher levels.

HLL came off the day's high of Rs 178 to close with a gain of 2% (Rs 3) at Rs 176. More than 10 lakh shares changed hands on BSE with a turnover of Rs 17 crore. Reliance firmed up on renewed buying to finish with a gain of more than a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 362. ITC ended marginally higher at Rs 771.

HPCL, on a late bout of buying, perked up 4% (Rs 14) to Rs 363. Over 9.72 lakh shares changed hands on BSE with a turnover of Rs 34 crore. MTNL remained firm and moved up 2% (Rs 2) to Rs 126. SBI also ended in the gainers list at Rs 432 - up Rs 4. BHEL, however, traded in negative zone through the session, and closed down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 299.

Tech majors largely finished with gains. Infosys, after gaining nearly 3% during afternoon trades, trimmed gains on profit-taking to finish up a per cent (Rs 49) at Rs 3,454. More than two lakh shares were traded on BSE with a turnover of Rs 97 crore. Satyam ended in positive zone with a gain of per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 199. HCL Tech, after trading in positive zone for a short stint, finished down a rupee at Rs 168.

Cement pivotals ended in the limelight. Grasim held gains on strong buying support, and notched up 3% gains (Rs 16) to Rs 594. Gujarat Ambuja and ACC, too, moved up 3% each to Rs 235 (up Rs 6) and Rs 209 (up Rs 7), respectively. L&T gained nearly 2% (Rs 4) to close at Rs 273.

Ranbaxy closed up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 836. Dr. Reddy's and Cipla traded on a steady note and ended with marginal gains of Rs 2 each at Rs 1,050 and Rs 861, respectively. Glaxo, however, lost 2% (Rs 10) to close at Rs 409.

Bajaj ended on a subdued note with a loss of a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 657. Hero Honda was down a rupee at Rs 274. Telco, however, managed to garner gains, and closed up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 248.

Hindalco was up Rs 10 at Rs 891. While Tisco added nearly 2% (Rs 4) to Rs 240, Zee ended up a tad at Rs 120. Nestle, however, had a bad outing and finished on a lacklustre note at Rs 572 - down Rs 15 or 3%. HDFC also reeled under selling pressure, and declined 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 469. ICICI Bank ended down a rupee at Rs 158.

Visual surged nearly 9% (Rs 14) to Rs 177. Wipro ended marginally higher (Rs 3) at Rs 926. Mastek finished on a flat note at Rs 202. i-flex, however, slipped from higher levels on selling pressure to finish 4% lower (Rs 48) at Rs 1,065. E-Serve buckled under selling pressure to finish with a loss of 3% (Rs 20) at Rs 601. Digital closed down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 455. Hughes was down a rupee at Rs 291.

Oil PSUs ascended on strong buying support. ONGC bounced from a low of Rs 532, and spurted 4% (Rs 20) to Rs 556. More than five lakh shares were traded on BSE with a turnover of Rs 31 crore. IBP and BPCL mopped up 2% gains each to close at Rs 631 (up Rs 10) and Rs 286 (up Rs 6), respectively. IOC, however, came off the day's high of Rs 532, and finished down a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 518.

Jindal Steel touched a high of Rs 703, but closed with a gain of 14% (Rs 88) at Rs 696. SAIL gained nearly 6% (Rs 2) to close at Rs 36. Essar Steel and Jindal Strips also finished with gains.