The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 11 points at 3,932, but immediately drifted lower to 3,928. Unabated buying, particularly in old economy stocks, saw the index bounce soon and remain firm throughout the session. The index spurted to an intra-day high of 3,985 during late-afternoon deals.

The Sensex finally setteled with a gain of 56 points at 3,978. The Nifty advanced 33 points to 1,281.

While 21 Sensex stocks advanced, nine declined on Monday. The traded volume and value totalled 1.93 crore and Rs 596.12 crore, respectively.

Techs, heavyweights & PSUs ended with strong gains.

Infosys had a decent outing and finished with a gain of 2% (Rs 69) at Rs 3,488. More than 100,000 shares were traded on BSE with a turnover of Rs 64 crore (Rs 640 million). While Satyam added a per cent (Rs 3) to close at Rs 201, HCL Tech ended up a tad at Rs 164.

HLL gained 2% (Rs 4) to Rs 182. ITC, after trading on a divergent note, finished firm with a gain of a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 771. Reliance, too, was up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 361.

BHEL remained firm through the session and clocked nearly 6% gains (Rs 17) to Rs 324. While MTNL gained 2% to Rs 128, HPCL finished up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 360. SBI, however, ended marginally lower at Rs 430.

Auto majors displayed positive trends. Bajaj, after a steady opening, rallied sharply towards the close to finish with a gain of 6% (Rs 41) at Rs 713. Telco moved up 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 259. Hero Honda traded on a steady note, and was up a rupee at Rs 269.

Tisco gained 6% (Rs 16) to Rs 259. More than 51 lakh (5.1 million) shares changed hands on BSE with a turnover of Rs 130 crore (Rs 1,300 million).

Colgate advanced 5% (Rs 8) to Rs 155.

HDFC notched up 5% gains (Rs 24) to Rs 479, and Hindalco logged 3% (Rs 28) to Rs 925. While Nestle moved up nearly 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 584, ICICI Bank closed up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 157.

Zee, however, closed in the red at Rs 115 - down Rs 2%.

Cement pivotals ended on a mixed note. L&T and ACC traded in a narrow range and finished up a per cent each at Rs 280 (up Rs 2) and Rs 210 (up Rs 3), respectively. Gujarat Ambuja languished in the negative territory and ended 2% lower (Rs 4) at Rs 229. Grasim fell from higher levels on profit-taking to finish down a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 610.

The pharma stocks ended at lower levels. Cipla remained subdued through the session and was down a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 848. Dr. Reddy's, after trading with steady gains for the better part of the session, finished marginally lower at Rs 1,064. While Ranbaxy shed Rs 4 to Rs 831, Glaxo was down Rs 2 at Rs 410.

Sail continued to be buoyant on strong buying support and vaulted 30% (Rs 12) to Rs 51. More than 4.98 crore (49.8 million) shares were traded on BSE with a turnover of Rs 237 crore (Rs 2,370 million). Jindal Steel shot up 8% (Rs 54) to close at Rs 737.

IDBI Bank hit its upper circuit to close at Rs 41 (up Rs 7). Kotak Bank surged 16% (Rs 65) to close at Rs 494.

Tech stocks largely finished with gains. i-flex witnessed strong buying support and flared up 9% (Rs 92) to close at Rs 1,096. Hughes advanced 4% (Rs 12) at Rs 294. While Digital gained 3% (Rs 15) at Rs 455, Mphasis closed up a per cent at Rs 363. Wipro and Mastek, however, were marginally lower at Rs 908 and Rs 198, respectively.

Oil PSUs faltered under selling pressure. IOC shed 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 327. IBP and BPCL were down a per cent each at Rs 623 (down Rs 7) and Rs 286 (down Rs 2), respectively. ONGC closed down a tad at Rs 548. Kochi Refineries, however, ended with a gain of 7% (Rs 8) at Rs 115.

Sensex @ 15.10

The market continues to witness buying in old and new economy stocks, thereby pushing the Sensex by 62 points at 3,983.

The Nifty has gained 27 points to 1,275.

Infosys has slightly come off from the higher levels on profit-taking, and is now up 2% (Rs 64) at Rs 3,483. While Satyam has added Rs 2 to Rs 200, HCL Tech is up a rupee at Rs 165.

HLL has flared up nearly 3% (Rs 5) to Rs 183. ITC and Reliance have added Rs 4 each to Rs 767 and Rs 362, respectively.

BHEL has gained 5% (Rs 14) to Rs 322. While MTNL has gained 2% to Rs 128, SBI and HPCL are up a rupee each at Rs 432 and Rs 359, respectively.

Bajaj is riding high on a strong buying support with a gain of 3% (Rs 23) at Rs 694. While Telco has gained 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 260, Hero Honda is trading marginally higher at Rs 269.

Tisco has spurted 6% (Rs 15) to Rs 258. Colgate, too, has clocked 6% gains (Rs 9) to Rs 157.

HDFC has rallied sharply on sustained buying interest, and has logged 5% gains (Rs 22) to Rs 478. Hindalco is trading firm with gains of 2% (Rs 23) at Rs 919. Nestle at Rs 586 (up Rs 11) and ICICI Bank at Rs 159 (up Rs 3) have moved up 2% each. Zee, however, has shed 2% to Rs 115.

L&T has edged up by a per cent (Rs 3) to Rs 281. ACC is moving in a narrow range with a rupee gain at Rs 208. Grasim is up a tad at Rs 615. Gujarat Ambuja has slipped further on selling pressure with a loss of 2% (Rs 5) at Rs 229.

Sensex @ 13.20

The afternoon trade has seen the Sensex surge further on strong buying support in the old and new economy stocks. It is now up 55 points at 3,976.

The Nifty also has gained further ground, and is now up 27 points at 1,275.

Infosys has attracted further buying in its counter, and is now up 3% (Rs 100) at Rs 3,519. While Satyam has gained nearly 2% to Rs 201, HCL Tech is up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 166.

ITC has added a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 769. HLL is trading with steady gains at Rs 181 - up Rs 3 or 2%. Reliance is trading with a minimal gain of Rs 2 at Rs 360.

BHEL has accelerated by 5% (Rs 15) to Rs 322. HPCL, after a weak morning session, has moved up a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 361. MTNL is still at its previous gains of 3% at Rs 129.

Tisco has notched up 5% gains (Rs 11) to Rs 254. Hindalco and HDFC have added 2% each to Rs 918 (up Rs 21) and Rs 466 (up Rs 10), respectively. ICICI Bank has gained nearly 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 158.

Bajaj has moved up 3% (Rs 22) to Rs 694. Hero Honda is holding on to its gains at Rs 270 - up Rs 3. Telco, too, is trading with gains of Rs 3 at Rs 258.

ACC has inched up by a per cent (Rs 2) to Rs 208. Grasim has edged by Rs 4 to Rs 618. L&T is trading with modest gains of Rs 2 at Rs 280. Gujarat Ambuja is stil languishing in the negative territory at Rs 231 - down Rs 3.

Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's are unchanged with a per cent gain each at Rs 1,071 (up Rs 6) and Rs 840 (up Rs 5), respectively. Cipla, however, is still down Rs 5 at Rs 851. Glaxo is down a rupee at Rs 411.

Sensex @ 12.10

The Sensex, on the back of significant gains in tech, PSU and auto stocks has gained further ground, and is now up 32 points at 3,954.

The Nifty also has moved up by 20 points to 1,268.

Infosys has rallied sharply on renewed buying support with a gain of nearly 3% (Rs 93) to Rs 3,512. Satyam and HCL Tech have gained 2% each to Rs 202 (up Rs 4) and Rs 167 (up Rs 3), respectively.

HLL is holding on to its gains at Rs 181 - up Rs 3 or 2%. Reliance has sneaked into the positive zone with a rupee gain at Rs 360. ITC, however, is down a rupee at Rs 763.

BHEL has firmed up by 4% (Rs 12) to Rs 319. While MTNL has added 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 128, SBI is up a rupee at Rs 432. HPCL, however, is down a tad at Rs 357.

Bajaj has upped its gains on renewed buying support to Rs 691 - up Rs 19 or 3%. Hero Honda is trading at Rs 270. Telco, too, has rolled back into the positive zone with a gain of Rs 3 at Rs 258.

Grasim is now marginally up Rs 2 at Rs 616. L&T and ACC are still up a rupee each at Rs 280 and Rs 207, respectively. Gujarat Ambuja is down Rs 3 at Rs 230.

Ranbaxy is unchanged with steady gains of Rs 5 at Rs 840. Dr. Reddy's is trading with a gain of Rs 11 at Rs 1,076. While Cipla is still trading lower by Rs 3 at Rs 853, Glaxo is down Rs 2 at Rs 410.

Tisco continues to trade on a higher note, and has now advanced 3% (Rs 8) to Rs 251. While HDFC has gained 2% (Rs 7) to Rs 463, Hindalco is up a per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 908. ICICI Bank has edged up a per cent (Rs 2) to Rs 157. Zee, however, is still trading lower at Rs 116.

Sail continues to exhibit strength on strong buying support, and is now up 17% (Rs 7) at Rs 46. Jindal Steel is trading firm with gains of 8% (Rs 54) at Rs 737. Bharti Televentures has notched up gains of 6% (Rs 3) to Rs 57.

The Oriental Bank and UTI Bank have shed 2% each to Rs 167 and Rs 74, respectively. 

Sensex @ 11.05

The Sensex, after opening on a positive note has garnered further gains on buying support in select old and new economy stocks.

It is now up 21 points at 3,942. The Nifty has advanced 16 points to 1,264.

Infosys, after a steady opening, has moved up a per cent (Rs 21) to Rs 3,439. Satyam and HCL Tech are up a notch each at Rs 198 and Rs 164, respectively.

BHEL is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 311, but HPCL has shed a per cent (Rs 2) to Rs 355. MTNL is unchanged with gains of 2% (Rs 3) at Rs 129.

Grasim has shed some gains on profit-taking to Rs 617 - up Rs 3. L&T and ACC are up Rs 2 each at Rs 280 and Rs 208, respectively. Gujarat Ambuja, however, has edged lower by Rs 3 to Rs 230.

HLL on profit-taking has shed a per cent, and is now up Rs 2 at Rs 180. ITC has lost a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 758. Reliance is still down a rupee at Rs 358.

Bajaj and Hero Honda are trading with gains of Rs 3 each at Rs 675 and Rs 270, respectively. Telco, however, is trading marginally lower at Rs 254.

Ranbaxy is steady at Rs 840 - up Rs 5. Dr. Reddy's has added Rs 2 to Rs 1,067, but Cipla and Glaxo are down Rs 2 each at Rs 854 and Rs 410, respectively.

Tisco has notched up nearly 3% gains (Rs 6) to Rs 249. HDFC has moved up 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 464, and Hindalco is up a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 903. Zee, however, is down a rupee at Rs 117.

Sensex @ 10.15

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 11 points at 3,932. It is now up 15 points at 3,936.

HLL has advanced 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 181. Reliance is down a rupee at Rs 358. ITC is also down a rupee at Rs 763.

BHEL is up Rs 2 at Rs 309. MTNL is also up 2% (Rs 2) to Rs 128. SBI, however, is down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 427.

Grasim has added Rs 7 to Rs 621.

Ranbaxy is up Rs 5 at Rs 840.

Tisco has moved up Rs 3 to Rs 246. Hindalco has gained Rs 10 to Rs 906.

HDFC is up Rs 6 at Rs 462.

Infosys is up Rs 5 at Rs 3,424. Satyam is also marginally higher, but HCL has opened on a weak note.