Sensex at all-time high; up 34 points

Although the banking and IT pivotals took a beating on the Sensex today; auto, cement and power stocks lifted the Sensex to a new high. Better than expected Q1 results coupled with huge FIIs inflows catapulted the index to a all-time high today. Index heavyweights like ONGC, RIL, HLL and Infosys Technologies aided Sensex's surge.

BSE Sensex gained 34 points (0.45%) to a close at a lifetime high of 7,669. The Nifty finished 5.75 points higher at 2,318.05.

HLL zoomed 4.7% to Rs 174.80 on strong Q2 results. ITC fell a per cent lower to Rs 1,663.

Most of the banking stocks suffered losses in today's trading session. HDFC Bank lost 2% to Rs 675. ICICI Bank edged lower to Rs 533. SBI dropped a per cent lower to Rs 789.

Bharti Tele-Ventures rose 3% to Rs 286.

Infosys finished with a marginal gain of 0.2% at Rs 2,274, while Wipro declined to Rs 724 (down Rs 11).

Ranbaxy leaped up 9% to Rs 514. Cipla finished a 2% lower at Rs 334 and Dr Reddy slipped a per cent to close at Rs 829.

Power pivotals were in the limelight today. NTPC surged 5% to Rs 98, while Tata Power advanced 3% to Rs 403. REL climbed up 4% to Rs 630.

Grasim plunged 2% to Rs 1,162 (down Rs 26). Reliance Capital spurted 9% to Rs 459.

Auto stocks traded higher on the back of improved July sales and strong Q1 results. Maruti and Hero Honda leapt 2% each (up Rs 10 and Rs 16) to Rs 495 and Rs 629, respectively. Bajaj Auto moved up by Rs 3 to 1,447.

Tata Motors gained 4% and is currently trading at Rs 501. Ashok Leyland leaped 5% to Rs 31. The stock rose on high volume of 61.7 lakh shares.

ACC added 2% to Rs 438.70, Gujarat Ambuja Cements rose 4% to Rs 67 and India Cements jumped 8% to Rs 93.

Reliance Industries which was trading in red during mid-morning, recovered to close a per cent higher at Rs 709. ONGC too rebounded from lower levels to Rs 946 (up Rs 8).

Bhel, however, lost a per cent to finish at Rs 993 (down Rs 13).