The Sensex opened 10 points higher at 4,465. The overall mood in the market was bullish, and the index remained firm right through the session today.

Buying, however, gained momentum towards the closing bell and most of the stocks rose sharply.

The index touched a high of 4,557 before finally wrapping up the last day of the week with a huge gain of 98 points at 4,553. The Nifty surged 28 points to 1,449.

While 24 Sensex stocks advanced, six declined today. The traded volume and value were higher at 3.29 crore and Rs 1,052.14 crore, respectively.

Reliance at Rs 449 (up Rs 14 or 3%) and HLL at Rs 191 (up Rs 6 or 3%) rallied sharply on sustained buying support. The Reliance counter registered a volume of more than 28 lakh on the BSE with a value of Rs 124 crore. ITC, however, slipped from higher levels and ended with a loss of Rs 2 at Rs 809.

Zee, on the back of a huge volume of 66 lakh, zoomed 9% (Rs 12) to Rs 136. Tisco advanced 4% (Rs 12) to Rs 282.

Bajaj shot up 3% (Rs 24) to Rs 838, Hero Honda surged nearly 5% (Rs 14) to Rs 324 and Telco moved up 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 319.

L&T gathered pace in the afternoon session, and vaulted 6% (Rs 19) to Rs 340 on strong buying support. Gujarat Ambuja at Rs 233 (up Rs 4 or 2%), ACC at Rs 207 (up Rs 6 or 3%) and Grasim at Rs 661 (up Rs 2) traded on a steady note through the session.

Dr. Reddy's logged huge gains towards the closing bell, and moved up 4% (Rs 44) to Rs 1,112. Cipla and Ranbaxy had a steady outing, and closed with a gain of a per cent each at Rs 1,047 (up Rs 12) and Rs 969 (up Rs 10), respectively. Glaxo, however, ended down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 450.

SBI gained ground in the afternoon trades, and surged 2% (Rs 10) to Rs 456. Over 12.80 lakh shares changed hands on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 57 crore. MTNL gained 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 120. HPCL at Rs 360 (down Rs 2) and BHEL at Rs 404 (down Rs 2) languished in negative territory through the session.

Infosys, after trading with modest gains till the noon deals, slipped thereafter and ended with a marginal loss of Rs 14 at Rs 4,554. Satyam, however, clocked 2% gains (Rs 5) to Rs 258. HCL Tech closed up a rupee at Rs 178.

Hindalco (up 3% or Rs 30 to Rs 976), BSES (up 3% or Rs 10 to Rs 382), HDFC (up 2% or Rs 11 to Rs 522), ICICI Bank (up 2% or Rs 5 to Rs 210) and Nestle (up 2% or Rs 14 to Rs 595) ended in positive zones on aggressive buying support.

PSU scrips largely finished with sharp gains today.

SCI, which announced a special interim dividend of 170% (Rs 17) per share, rocketed 27% (Rs 30) to Rs 141. The stock clocked a volume of more than 73 lakh on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 95 crore.

EIL flared up 10% (Rs 32) to Rs 342 on better divestment hopes. While STC logged 8% gains (Rs 8) to Rs 104, Container Corporation shot up 6% (Rs 33) to Rs 539. BEL ended with a gain of a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 498.