The Tata stocks stole the show on Monday at the stock exchanges with major scrips scaling 52-week high and Tata Steel leading the pack with an all-time high.

Ahead of the results, major Tata scrips -- Tata Steel, Tata Tea, Tata Power Company, Tata Motors and Indian Hotels Company, moved northwards.

The Tata Steel scrip on Monday breached its all-time high of Rs 338 in 1994 and closed at a new high of Rs 341.50 on the Bombay Stock Exchange and at Rs 340.80 on the National Stock Exchange.

The Tata Steel scrip moved up as high as Rs 343 and then finally shed some gains before closing.

Analysts tracking the company said that operators had built up huge positions in the stock in expectation of good second quarter results.

A mutual fund today said that there are indications that the scrip might cross the Rs 500-mark. A stock broker said, "Market rumours suggest that the company has paid an advanced tax of Rs 180 crore (Rs 1.80 billion) for the second quarter. If it comes true, the company's annualised earning per share at the end of the first quarter will be Rs 40 which indicates that it is still a good buy at the ruling rates."

Another broker, who belongs to the conservative school, said there were little liquid shares at the counter.

"A handful of foreign institutional investors as well as operators have cornered the Tata Steel shares over the past fortnight. It means the rise or fall at the counter will be sharp."

He suggested retail investors to stay away from the counter, at least till a correction takes place.

The Tata Tea scrip touched a 52-week high of Rs 296 on BSE and Rs 295.80 on NSE. The scrip finally closed at Rs 292.80 and Rs 292.40 on BSE and NSE, respectively, on Monday.

The appreciation in the scrip was despite the gloom looming large in the tea industry.

However, Tata Tea is gradually trying to come out of the commodity cycle by focusing on branding. The company is also in the process of reviewing its plantation strategy.

Tata Power Company, which had been making smart gains today touched a 52-week high at Rs 214.90 on BSE and Rs 215 on NSE. The scrip finally closed at Rs 213.40 and Rs 213.55 on BSE and NSE, respectively.

The Indian Hotels Company stock moved up sharply by more than eight per cent. The scrip touched a 52-week high of Rs 349.40 on BSE and then closed at Rs 335.40. On NSE, the scrip touched a 52-week high of Rs 349.95 and closed at Rs 336.

Tata Motors' scrip touched a 52-week high on BSE at Rs 388.60 before finally closing at Rs 385.95. On NSE, the scrip closed at Rs 386.55.