The Sensex opened 11 points higher at 4,393 and moved past 4,400-levels in a quick succession. The markets remained range bound (positive zone) till the early noon deals on selective buying support, but firmed up in mid-noon deals on aggressive buying support in HPCL, SBI, MTNL and Ranbaxy to touch a high of 4,426.

However, volatility towards the closing hours saw the index pare its gains, and finally settle with a steady gain of 19 points at 4,402. The Nifty ended 13 points higher at 1,400.

While 20 Sensex stocks advanced, 10 declined today. The traded volume and value of the index scrips were higher at 3.14 crore and Rs 1,180.31 crore, respectively.

PSU stocks lifted the sentiment on sustained buying support. HPCL firmed up in mid-noon deals, and spurted 5% (Rs 19) to Rs 373. The oil PSU major registered a volume of over 11.42 lakh shares on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 42 crore. While SBI notched up 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 443, MTNL logged 4% (Rs 5) gains to Rs 122. The banking clocked a volume of more than 16 lakh on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 71 crore. More than nine lakh MTNL shares changed on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 11 crore. BHEL traded off-highs and closed up a tad at Rs 383.

Heavyweights, after a mixed outing, largely finished with losses today. ITC slipped from higher levels to finish with a loss of a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 813. HLL, too, ended at lower levels at Rs 180 - down Rs 2. Reliance held gains on strong buying support, and advanced 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 434. The counter registered a volume of more than 26 lakh on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 114 crore.

Grasim at Rs 660 (up Rs 20 or 3%), Gujarat Ambuja at Rs 231 (up Rs 5 or 2%), L&T at Rs 320 (up Rs 7 or 2%) and ACC at Rs 202 (up Rs 5 or 3%) ended firm on sustained buying support.

Auto pivotals ended with modest gains. Telco added 3 to Rs 306. Hero Honda pared gains on profit-taking and ended with a per cent gain (Rs 2) at Rs 296. Bajaj, however, after displaying mixed outings, ended down a per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 790.

Tech and pharma majors displayed negative trends. Infosys remained subdued through the session and dropped nearly 2% (Rs 72) to Rs 4,474. The tech bellwether logged a volume of 3.54 lakh on the BSE with value of Rs 159 crore. Satyam, too, remained weak and was down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 246. HCL Tech, however, bounced from its low's, but ended with a marginal gain of Rs 2 at Rs 171.

Dr. Reddy's and Cipla traded on a lacklustre note and lost 2% each to Rs 1,045 (down Rs 21) and Rs 1,013 (down Rs 18), respectively. Ranbaxy, however, after receiving a tentative approval from the USFDA to manufacture and market Simvastatin tablets, jumped nearly 2% (Rs 17) to close at Rs 956. Glaxo, after a mixed outing ended up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 454.

BSES raked in 4% gains (Rs 16) to Rs 376. While Tisco added Rs 3 to Rs 269, Zee closed up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 116. HDFC, however, dropped 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 491. ICICI Bank, which displayed positive trends last week, ended down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 203.

Oil PSUs rallied sharply and ended with gains todya. ONGC and BPCL logged 6% gains each to Rs 607 (up Rs 33) and Rs 369 (up Rs 22), respectively on strong buying support. IOC, too, ended with gains of 6% (Rs 21) to Rs 382. IBP, however, lost 3% (Rs 22) to Rs 826.

Other PSU stocks, too, raked in good gains on strong buying support. Container Corporation notched up 9% gains (Rs 41) to Rs 506. SCI clocked 6% (Rs 7) to Rs 110. While BEL gained a per cent (Rs 5) to Rs 482, EIL ended flat at Rs 287.

Tech majors were weak today. Wipro, after touching a high of Rs 1,271, ended marginally lower at Rs 1,245. Over 4.51 lakh shares were traded on the BSE with value of Rs 56 crore. Moser Baer dipped 4% (Rs 18) to Rs 389. Hughes and HCL Infosys ended a per cent lower each at Rs 393 (down Rs 3) and Rs 301 (down Rs 5), respectively. Mastek closed down a rupee at Rs 241. Mphasis BFL, however, rose 7% (Rs 31) to Rs 487. Digital ended marginally higher at Rs 534.