The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 23 points at 4,235. The morning and mid-afternoon trades saw the index remain firm on sustained buying in heavyweights, pharma, cement and select PSUs and touch an intra-day high of 4,278.

A bout of profit-taking towards the closing stage saw the index slip to an intra-day low of 4,229. The Sensex finally settled with a gain of 32 points at 4,245. The Nifty ended 15 points higher at 1,356.

While 18 Sensex stocks advanced, 12 declined today. The traded volume and value of the index scrips were higher at 3.52 crore and Rs 1,114.08 crore, respectively.

Heavyweights largely finished with gains. ITC traded in positive territory to finish with a gain of 2% (Rs 15) at Rs 832. Reliance, after touching the day's high of Rs 405, shed some gains on profit-taking and finished up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 399.

More than 31 lakh shares were traded on the BSE today with a turnover of Rs 125 crore. HLL came under selling pressure, and lost nearly 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 184.

Pharma pivotals emerged as major gainers on strong buying support. Cipla moved up sharply on strong buying support, and vaulted 10% (Rs 93) to Rs 1,010. While Ranbaxy shot up 5% (Rs 50) to Rs 1,001, Dr. Reddy's logged 4% gains (Rs 49) at Rs 1,153. Glaxo, after trading in and out of positive zone, ended up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 441.

PSU frontliners slipped from higher levels. MTNL dropped 4% (Rs 5) to Rs 123 on sustained selling pressure. Over 18 lakh shares changed hands on BSE today with a turnover of Rs 23 crore. While SBI lost Rs 5 to Rs 439, BHEL was down a rupee at Rs 351.

HPCL came off the day's high of Rs 449 on profit-taking, but still gained 5% (Rs 19) to close at Rs 430. The due-diligence report saw hectic activity on the counter today, and more than 31 lakh shares were trade on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 137 crore.

Tech stocks ended weak today. Satyam declined 3% (Rs 6) to Rs 227. HCL Tech fell from higher levels to finish with a loss of 2% (Rs 5) at Rs 184. Infosys ended marginally higher (Rs 14) at Rs 3,910.

Grasim (up 2% or Rs 11 to Rs 618), Gujarat Ambuja (up 2% or Rs 4 to Rs 230), L&T (up 2% or Rs 5 to Rs 289) and ACC (up 4% or Rs 7 to Rs 212) ended at higher levels.

While Telco logged 2% gains (Rs 5) at Rs 280, Bajaj ended up a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 728. Hero Honda, however, was down Rs 2 at Rs 290.

Tisco notched up nearly 3% gains (Rs 6) at Rs 252. Hindalco added Rs 6 at Rs 911. ICICI Bank dropped 3% (Rs 5) to Rs 179. Zee also lost nearly 3% to Rs 102.

Oil PSUs flared up today. IBP at Rs 658 (up Rs 38) and IOC at Rs 384 (up Rs 22) ended with 6% gains. ONGC and BPCL moved up 2% each to Rs 614 (up Rs 9) and Rs 331 (up Rs 5), respectively.

Hexaware dropped 7% (Rs 17) at Rs 221. Geometric lost 6% (Rs 22) at Rs 351. While Hughes and Mastek dipped 2% each at Rs 344 and Rs 233 (down Rs 6 each), Wipro was down a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 1,065. Digital, however, rose 4% (Rs 21) at Rs 504. i-flex also close up a per cent (Rs 16) at Rs 1,236.

The SC move on the Securitisation Act dragged bank stocks to lower levels today. Oriental Bank shed 5% (Rs 9) to Rs 173. UTI Bank and IDBI Bank were down 4% each at Rs 73 (down Rs 3) and Rs 36 (down Rs 2), respectively. BoB and Syndicate Bank dipped 3% each to Rs 144 (down Rs 5) and Rs 27, respectively.