The Sensex commenced on a healthy note with a gain of 29 points at 5,944. Sharp buying in select old economy stocks in the opening session kept the index at higher levels, although buying, particularly in cement and tech stocks remained steady.

The markets continuing with its upward trend crossed the 6,000 mark barrier in early noon deals, as renewed buying in ONGC, Reliance, ITC, Hindalco and Zee lifted the index to an intra-day high of 6,034 towards the closing stages.

The Sensex finally ended above the 6,000 levels with a huge gain of 111 points at 6,026. The Nifty ended 1.77% higher (up 34 pts) at 1,946.

ITC and Relaince advanced 3% each to Rs 1,023 (up Rs 31) and Rs 586 (up Rs 16), respectively. HLL closed up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 216.

BHEL (up 4% or Rs 20 to Rs 536), HPCL (up 2% or Rs 10 to Rs 461) and MTNL (up 4% or Rs 6 to Rs 149) scaled up on sustained buying support. SBI was up Rs 2 at Rs 567.

ONGC, on an unabated buying support, surged 12% (Rs 98) to Rs 919. While Hindalco notched up 6% gains (Rs 80) to Rs 1,480 on sustained buying support, Zee rocketed 5% (Rs 8) to Rs 159.

Grasim, after a steady opening, extended its gains towards the closing deal, and spurted 4% (Rs 44) to Rs 1,056. ACC bounced from its lows, and ended 3% higher (Rs 7) at Rs 266. L&T and Gujarat Ambuja closed up a per cent each at Rs 537 (up Rs 7) and Rs 316 (up Rs 4), respectively.

Cipla rose nearly 4% (Rs 48) to Rs 1,399. While Dr. Reddy's clocked a per cent gain (Rs 18) to Rs 1,449, Ranbaxy ended with a marginal gain of Rs 4 at Rs 1,108.

Infosys held gains and closed up a per cent (Rs 40) at Rs 5,672. While Wipro was up Rs 6 at Rs 1,764, Satyam closed up a rupee at Rs 375.

Hero Honda added nearly 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 465. Tata Motors was up Rs 3 at Rs 457. Bajaj, however, slipped from higher levels, and ended off-gains at Rs 1,122 - down Rs 13.