The Sensex opened with a positive gap of three points at 3,586, and moved in a narrow range till early afternoon deals. Hectic buying in pharma, PSU and select heavyweights in late noon deals saw the index spurt to an intra-day high of 3,633. Profit-taking at higher levels saw the index shed some ground, and settle with a gain of 24 points at 3,607. The Nifty moved up 9 points to 1,134.

While 18 Sensex stocks advanced, 12 declined on Monday. The traded volume and value of the index scrips totalled 1.75 crore (17.5 million) and Rs 531.56 crore (Rs 5.32 billion), respectively.

Pharma stocks ended with healthy gains. Dr. Reddy's and Ranbaxy, on strong buying support, moved up 3% each to Rs 1,095 (up Rs 34) and Rs 785 (up Rs 26). Cipla moved in a narrow range, and added Rs 12 to Rs 755. Glaxo was up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 358.

PSU frontliners, too, largely finished with gains. SBI closed at Rs 384 - up Rs 9 or 2%. BHEL gained 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 269. MTNL was up Rs 2 at Rs 113. HPCL, however, slipped into the red from positive zone to close down a rupee at Rs 349.

Heavyweights ended in positive zones. ITC and HLL finished with a gain of Rs 4 each at Rs 766 and Rs 178, respectively. Reliance was up a tad at Rs 325.

HCL Tech remained in positive zone throughout the session, and added 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 154. Satyam, too, closed up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 192. Infosys, however, faltered, and ended 2% lower (Rs 70) at Rs 3,265.

Cement majors closed with losses. Grasim, after a successfull run last week, commenced on a negative note and dropped 2% (Rs 11) to Rs 502. ACC was down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 167. L&T, too, dipped on selling pressure to Rs 245 - down Rs 3. Gujarat Ambuja, however, closed up a rupee at Rs 205.

Auto pivotals displayed negative trends. Telco shed 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 198, and Bajaj was down Rs 2 at Rs 574 on selling pressure. Hero Honda, however, finished up a notch at Rs 253.

ICICI Bank moved up 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 150. While Tisco added Rs 2 to Rs 169, Zee was marginally weak at Rs 88.

Tech scrips finished on a mixed note. Hughes gained 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 228. While Wipro closed up a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 947, Digital finished up a tad at Rs 446. CMC lost 3% (Rs 17) to Rs 462. Geometric Software and Mastek shed 2% each to Rs 385 (down Rs 9) and Rs 298 (down Rs 6), respectively.

Corporation Bank, Federal Bank and BoB lost 3% each to Rs 157 (down Rs 5), Rs 151 (down Rs 4) and Rs 112 (down Rs 3), respectively.

Cadila Healthcare was locked at its 20% upper limit at Rs 176 (up Rs 29). German Remedies was frozen at the 10% upper circuit at Rs 253 - a gain of Rs 23.