The Sensex pared gains towards the close, and finally closed 51 points higher at 5,755. The Nifty ended at 1,813 - up 15 points.

Infosys dropped 1.9% (Rs 37) to Rs 1,910. Satyam added a rupee to Rs 374, and Wipro spurted Rs 6 to Rs 660.

ITC soared 3.6% (Rs 39) to Rs 1,125. Reliance surged 2.5% (Rs 13) to Rs 543. HLL rallied 2% (Rs 2.50) to Rs 128.

HDFC has advanced 3.2% (Rs 20) to Rs 650.

Hindalco gained a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,225. Tisco was down a rupee at Rs 293.

Dr.Reddy's and Ranbaxy surged 1.3% each to Rs 756 and Rs 1,123, respectively. Cipla, however, finished a rupee lower at Rs 279.

While Bhel added Rs 6 to Rs 634, Larsen & Toubro declined 1.4% (Rs 12) to Rs 820.

Bajaj Auto zoomed 2.3% (Rs 22) to Rs 983, and Hero Honda gained Rs 2 at Rs 429. While Tata Motors was up Rs 3 at Rs 419, Maruti ended a rupee higher at Rs 380.

Grasim has surged 3% (Rs 32) to Rs 1,124. Gujarata Ambuja rallied 2.4% (Rs 8) to Rs 353, and ACC spurted 1.5% (Rs 4) to Rs 263.

Tata Power soared 3.5% (Rs 11) to Rs 316.

Zee was up 1.7% (Rs 2.50) at Rs 148.