The markets opened with a positive gap of 38 points at 4,927. Renewed buying across all the counters in the morning and mid-noon session saw the index touch an intra-day high of 4,991.

However, profit-booking in select counters saw the index touch an intra-day low of 4,905 towards the closing stages. A slight recovery at the fag end of the trading session helped the Sensex finish the day with a gain of 49 points at 4,938. The Nifty also ended 21 points higher at 1,542.

Reliance advanced 2.5% (Rs 11) to Rs 445 while ITC was up 1.4% (Rs 12.50) at Rs 890.50. HLL was down a percent (Rs 2) at Rs 137.

Infosys, after trading in the green for most of the day, ended with a modest loss of Rs 17 at Rs 5,202. Satyam gained 3% (Rs 9.50) to Rs 318 while Wipro ended in the red with a loss of 1% (Rs 16) at Rs 1,485.

ONGC was up 3.5% (Rs 22.50) at Rs 673. MTNL pared most of its gains towards the closing stages and ended 2.6% (Rs 3) higher at Rs 120. HPCL gained a percent (Rs 3) to Rs 331.Bhel was down 2.3% (Rs 11) at Rs 460 while SBI was down marginally at Rs 485.

Bharti Tele-Ventures zoomed 7.6% (Rs 10) to Rs 142. HDFC gained 5% (Rs 30) to Rs 613. Pharma and cement counters also ended with gains on the bourses.