The Sensex opened with a healthy gain of 29 points at 5,596. Though the sentiment was bullish for better part of the trading session on Friday, the index slipped into the red in late morning deals as selling in select counters dragged it to a low of 5,552.

The markets soon recovered to remain in positive territory thereafter and rose sharply towards the closing hours as broad-based buying across-the-board lifted the index to an intra-day high of 5,683.

The Sensex, finally snapped the two day losing streak to end with a gain of 1.80 per cent (up 100 points) at 5,668. The Nifty, after touching an intra-day high of 1,807, ended at 1,800 - up 34 points.

While 24 Sensex stocks advanced, six declined today. Advancing shares registered a volume of 3.82 crore amounting to Rs 1,693.09 crore, and declining shares accounted for a volume of 33 lakh for Rs 153.97 crore.

Reliance advanced 2 per cent (Rs 11) to Rs 555. While ITC clocked a per cent gain (Rs 10) at Rs 1,099, HLL ended up a rupee at Rs 174.

SBI (up Rs 10 or 1.79 per cent to Rs 585), BHEL (up Rs 10 or 3.30 per cent to Rs 581), HPCL (up Rs 14 or 3.12 per cent to Rs 455) and MTNL (up Rs 3 or 2.17 per cent to Rs 136) ended with sharp gains.

Infosys attracted considerable buying support, and ended with a huge gain of 4.42 per cent (Rs 215) at Rs 5,072. Satyam (up Rs 20 or 6.94 per cent to Rs 310), too, accelerated on sustained buying support. Wipro raked-in 2.45 per cent gains (Rs 35) to close at Rs 1,457.

ACC rose 5.31 per cent (Rs 13) to Rs 260. While Gujarat Ambuja moved up 2.87 per cent (Rs 9) to Rs 309, Grasim closed down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,071. L&T, however, ended weak with a loss of Rs 3 at Rs 563.

Bajaj accelerated by 4.66 per cent (Rs 40) to Rs 907. Tata Motors jumped 2.71 per cent (Rs 13) to Rs 510. Hero Honda, however, ended a per cent lower (Rs 3) at Rs 493.

Reliance Energy mopped up significant gains, and spurted 4.65 per cent (Rs 33) to close at Rs 742. While ONGC advanced 2.37 per cent (Rs 17) to Rs 718, Tisco moved up 1.45 per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 430. Zee spurted 7.38 per cent (Rs 9) to Rs 133.

Ranbaxy added 1.60 per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 941. Cipla ended with a marginal gain of Rs 5 at Rs 1,120. Dr. Reddy's, however, closed down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,240.

HDFC declined 2.33 per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 610. Hindalco also ended in the red at Rs 1,250 - down Rs 14 or 1.14 per cent.

Sensex @ 1450 hrs

The market is witnessing a healthy buying trend with most of the scrips in old and new economy stocks gaining further ground.

The Sensex has surged 65 points to 5,632. The Nifty has gained 23 points to 1,789.

Reliance has advanced 2.18% (Rs 12) to Rs 555. While ITC is up with a steady gain of Rs 7 at Rs 1,097, HLL is still up a rupee at Rs 174.

BHEL (gained 3.69% or Rs 21 to Rs 583) has scaled up on further buying support. SBI is up 1.48% (Rs 8) at Rs 583. While HPCL has logged 2% gains (Rs 9) to Rs 450, MTNL has gained 2.13% (Rs 3) to Rs 136.

Infosys has surged 3.41% (Rs 165) to Rs 5,023. Satyam at Rs 307 (up Rs 17 or 6%) has gained considerable ground on sustained buying support. Wipro is trading with a per cent gain (Rs 12) at Rs 1,435.

ACC has appreciated by 4.20% (Rs 10) to Rs 257. While Gujarat Ambuja has moved up 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 306, Grasim is up a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,071. L&T, however, is still trailinby a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 561.

Bajaj has garnered nearly 5% gains (Rs 43) to Rs 909. Tata Motors has moved up 1.70% (Rs 8) to Rs 505. Hero Honda has slipped back into ther red with a per cent loss (Rs 5) at Rs 491.

Zee has spurted 6.33% (Rs 8) to Rs 132. Reliance Enery has stretched its gains by 3.48% (Rs 25) to Rs 734 on sustained buying support. ONGC has edged higher by 1.86% (Rs 13) to Rs 714.

Ranbaxy is still up a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 934. Cipla is unchanged with a modest gain of Rs 4 at Rs 1,195. Dr. Reddy's, however, is down Rs 6 at Rs 1,243.

Hindalco has dropped 2.50% (Rs 32) to Rs 1,232. HDFC has lost 2.39% (Rs 15) to Rs 609. Tisco and Tata Power are down a per cent each at Rs 419 (down Rs 4) and Rs 343 (down Rs 5), respectively.

Sensex @ 1330 hrs

The Sensex, on the back of fresh buying in heavyweights, PSUs, tech, auto and other select old economy stocks, has advanced up 47 points to 5,614.

The Nifty has added 17 points to 1,783.

Reliance has upped its gains by 1.74% (Rs 9) to Rs 553. While ITC has edged higher by 1.11% (Rs 12) to Rs 1,102, HLL is up a rupee at Rs 174.

BHEL (up Rs 13 or 2.23% to Rs 575), HPCL (up Rs 10 or 2.23% to Rs 451) and MTNL (up Rs 3 or 2% to Rs 136) have registered further gains. SBI is up a rupee at Rs 576.

Infosys has mopped up 2.53% gains (Rs 123) to Rs 4,980. While Satyam has shot up 5.20% (Rs 15) to Rs 305, Wipro is marginally up by Rs 4 at Rs 1,427.

ONGC is trading steady with a gain of 1.78% (Rs 12) to Rs 714. While Reliance enery has gained 1.29% (Rs 9) to Rs 718, Zee is up 2.78% (Rs 3) at Rs 127.

ACC has moved up 2.80% (Rs 7) to Rs 254. Gujarat Ambuja is up Rs 2 at Rs 302. L&T, however, has declined 1.45% (Rs 8) to Rs 558. Grasim is down with a marginal loss of Rs 2 at Rs 1,060.

Bajaj has advanced 4.47% (Rs 39) to Rs 905. Tata Motors has recovered from its losses, and is up 1.35% (Rs 7) at Rs 503. Hero Honda is trading with a loss of 1.24% (Rs 6) at Rs 490.

While Ranbaxy has added 1.17% (Rs 11) to Rs 937, Cipla is up Rs 3 at Rs 1,194. Dr. Reddy's, however, is trading lower by Rs 6 at Rs 1,243.

Hindalco has lost 2.70% (Rs 34) to Rs 1,230. HDFC has dropped 2.59% (Rs 16) to Rs 608. HDFC Bank is down Rs 2 at Rs 368. While Tata Power has dipped 1.88% (Rs 7) to Rs 342, Tisco is down 1.43% (Rs 6) at Rs 417.

Sensex @ 1225 hrs

The market is displaying volatility in early noon deals, as the index, which slipped into the red to touch a low of 5,552 short while ago, has bounced back into positive territory on renewed gains in select heavyweights, PSUs, tech and other old economy counters.

The Sensex is now up 12 points at 5,575. The Nifty is up 7 points at 1,773.

ITC, on profit-taking has pared gains, and is up a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 1,096. While Reliance is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 547, HLL is trading with a rupee gain at Rs 173.

BHEL (up Rs 9 or 1.56% to Rs 571), HPCL (up Rs 7 or 1.55% to Rs 448) and MTNL (up Rs 2 to Rs 135) are trading with steady gains. SBI, however, has eased on selling pressure to Rs 570 - down Rs 5.

Infosys is trading with a decent gain of 1.44% (Rs 70) at Rs 4,927. Satyam has added 4.18% (Rs 12) to Rs 302. Wipro, however, has inched lower by 1.31% (Rs 18) to Rs 1,405.

ONGC is unchanged with a per cent gain (Rs 10) at Rs 712.

L&T has dropped 2% (Rs 12) to Rs 554. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja have lost a per cent each to Rs 1,052 (down Rs 10) and Rs 297 (down Rs 3), respectively. ACC is up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 249.

Bajaj is trading firm with a gain of 3.78% (Rs 33) at Rs 899. Hero Honda (down Rs 12 or 2.34% to Rs 485) and Tata Motors (down Rs 3 to Rs 493) have lost ground on selling pressure.

Hindalco has plunged deep into the red, and the counter has slumped 3.58% (Rs 45) to Rs 1,219. HDFC has shed 2.31% (Rs 14) to Rs 610. While Tata Power has shed 3.45% (Rs 12) to Rs 336, Tisco has dipped 2.49% (Rs 11) to Rs 413.

Cipla is up with a modest gain of Rs 2 at Rs 1,193. Ranbaxy also is trading with marginal gain at Rs 930 - up Rs 4. Dr. Reddy's, however, has drifted into the red with a per cent loss (Rs 11) at Rs 1,237.

Sensex @ 1120 hrs

The Sensex, which rose sharply to cross the 5,600 mark in early deals, is slightly off-highs following the commencement of profit-taking in majority of the sectors. As a result, most of the scrips have either pared gains or slipped into the red thereby minimising the gains of the index. The Sensex is now up 27 points at 5,595. The Nifty also has trimmed its gains on selling in select counters, and is now up seven points at 1,773.

ITC has edged higher after a flat opening, and is up a per cent (Rs 10) at Rs 1,100. While Reliance is trading up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 548, HLL is up a rupee at Rs 173.

BHEL has added 2% (Rs 12) to Rs 574. HPCL (up Rs 8 or 1.78% to Rs 449) is trading higher. SBI and MTNL are trading with marginal gains at Rs 576 and Rs 135, respectively.

Infosys is up a per cent (Rs 52) at Rs 4,909. Satyam (up Rs 7 or 2.47% to Rs 297) also is trading firm. Wipro, however, has slipped a per cent (Rs 11) to Rs 1,411.

Bajaj has accelerated by 4.44% (Rs 38) to Rs 905 after a firm opening. While Tata Motors is up 1.10% (Rs 5) at Rs 502, Hero Honda has erased most of its gains on profit-taking in its counter, and is up Rs 2 at Rs 498.

ACC is up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 249. Grasim is up a rupee at Rs 1,062. While L&T has dipped 1.32% (Rs 7) to Rs 559, Gujarat Ambuja is down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 298.

Cipla and Ranbaxy are up a per cent each at Rs 1,202 (up Rs 11) and Rs 934 (up Rs 8), respectively. Dr. Reddy's, however, is down a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 1,240.

ONGC is up 1.60% (Rs 11) to Rs 713. Reliance enery, formerly BSES, also is trading with a per cent gain (Rs 7) at Rs 716. Zee has added 2.26% (Rs 3) to Rs 127.

Hindalco has declined a per cent (Rs 12) to Rs 1,252. While HDFC has lost 1.78% (Rs 11) to Rs 613, HDFC Bank is down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 367. Tisco (down Rs 5 or 1.16% to Rs 419) and Tata Power (down Rs 9 or 2.53% to Rs 339) have slipped into the red after a steady opening.

Sensex @1010 hrs:

The Sensex opened with a healthy gain of 29 points at 5,597, and immediately crossed the 5,600 mark to touch a high of 5,625 on early buying support in most of the old and new economy stocks. The Sensex is now up 53 points at 5,620. The Nifty has added 16 points to 1,782.

Reliance has moved up 1.13% (Rs 6) to Rs 549. While HLL is up a rupee at Rs 173, ITC is up a tad at Rs 1,090.

BHEL has added 1.89% (Rs 11) to Rs 573. While HPCL is up 1.33% (Rs 6) at Rs 447, MTNL has gained 1.68% (Rs 2) to Rs 1,36. SBI also is trading at higher levels with a gain of Rs 7 at Rs 582.

Bajaj, which slipped sharply at close yesterday, has commenced with a gain of 3.90% (Rs 34) at Rs 900. Hero Honda (up Rs 9 or 1.76% to Rs 505) and Tata Motors (up Rs 9 or 1.88% to Rs 506), too, have opened firm.

Infosys is up a per cent (Rs 38) at Rs 4,895. Satyam (up Rs 7 or 2.45% to Rs 297) and Wipro (up Rs 7 to Rs 1,430) are up with steady gains.

ONGC is up 1.71% (Rs 12) at Rs 713. HDFC, however, has shed 2% (Rs 12) to Rs 612.