The Sensex, which opened with a positive gap of 17 points at 4,342, notched up gains in early morning deals on all round buying to touch the day's high of 4,358.

The index, however, eased on profit-taking in old and new economy stocks in mid-morning deals, and slipped to an intra-day low of 4,292.

The index reverted back into positive zone thereafter on selective buying in heavyweights, PSUs and tech stocks. The Sensex finally wrapped up the proceedings with a gain of 14 points at 4,339. The Nifty ended nine points higher at 1,385.

While 17 Sensex stocks advanced, 13 declined today. The traded volume and value of the index scrips were higher at 3.10 crore and Rs 932.10 crore, respectively.

Heavyweights and PSUs largely finished with gains today. Reliance at Rs 417 (up Rs 5) and HLL at Rs 192 (up Rs 2) were steady right through the session. ITC, however, exhibited weakness on selling pressure, and was down a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 848.

HPCL (up 2% or Rs 7 to Rs 426), SBI (up Rs 3 to Rs 441) and BHEL (up a rupee to Rs 220) ended in the green. MTNL, however, closed at lower levels with a loss of 2% at Rs 126.

Tech pivotals also ended with gains today. Satyam bounced from lower levels, and advanced 3% (Rs 7) to Rs 244 on renewed buying support. HCL Tech remained firm right through the session, and logged 4% gains (Rs 8) to Rs 198. Infosys, after trading on a mixed note, ended with a marginal gain of Rs 11 at Rs 3,880.

Auto majors bounced from lows and largely ended in the gainers list. Telco advanced towards the closing hours, and closed with a gain of 3% (Rs 8) at Rs 288. Bajaj, which lost around 3% in the opening trades, bounced on buying support to finish with a gain of Rs 4 at Rs 734. Hero Honda, however, was down Rs 2 at Rs 290.

Pharma stocks displayed mixed trends. Ranbaxy and Glaxo moved up a per cent each to Rs 1,022 (up Rs 12) and Rs 433 (up Rs 4), respectively. Cipla and Dr. Reddy's, however, ended down a per cent each at Rs 1,024 (down Rs 15) and Rs 1,132 (down Rs 14), respectively.

Cement frontliners were weak today. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja slipped from higher levels to finish in negative territory at Rs 636 (down Rs 2) and Rs 236 (down Rs 4 or 2%), respectively. L&T, too, ended in the red at Rs 302 - down Rs 2. ACC, however, was up Rs 3 at Rs 220.

HDFC dropped 4% (Rs 22) to Rs 479, and Hindalco lost 2% (Rs 15) to Rs 927 on sustained selling pressure. Tisco was down a rupee at Rs 253.

Zee notched up 4% (Rs 5) gains to Rs 110. ICICI Bank edged higher towards the closing bell to finish 2% higher (Rs 3) at Rs 187.

Tech and oil PSU stocks ended at mixed levels.

Wipro added 2% (Rs 22) to Rs 1,133. While Hughes moved up 3% (Rs 9) to Rs 357, Mastek closed up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 240. i-flex and Digital, however, were down a per cent each at Rs 1,283 (down Rs 7) and Rs 517 (down Rs 4), respectively.

IBP clocked 6% gains (Rs 23) to Rs 435. BPCL added 2% (Rs 7) to Rs 335.

Kochi Refineries ended 4% lower (Rs 6) at Rs 156. IOC lost 3% (Rs 11) to Rs 387. ONGC, which touched an all-time high of Rs 663, was down a rupee at Rs 652.

Maruti Udyog, which reported a 3% decline in August sales yesterday, dropped 4% (Rs 9) to Rs 226.