Sensex gains 4pts; Hindalco up 3%

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 31 points at 6,594, and zoomed to a new all-time high of 6,617 in early morning deals. Profit-taking at higher levels saw the index shed gains, and move in a narrow range for most part of the session.

After dropping to a low of 6,552 - a decline of 65 points from the intra-day high - the Sensex finally closed with a marginal gain of four points at 6,568.

While 16 index scrips advanced with a volume of 65 lakh shares totalling Rs 352 crore, 14 declined with a volume of 60 lakh shares for Rs 290 crore.

Heavyweights finished with marginal gains. Infosys was up Rs 12 at Rs 2,074. While ITC was up Rs 2 at Rs 1,320, HLL was up a rupee at Rs 145.  Reliance moved up Rs 3 to Rs 531. SBI, however, was down Rs 3 at Rs 622.

Hindalco gained over 3% (Rs 46) to Rs 1,414. ACC advanced nearly 3% (Rs 10) to Rs 335. Gujarat Ambuja was up Rs 4 at Rs 402.

Hero Honda moved up Rs 6 to Rs 557. Bajaj was up Rs 4 at Rs 1,125. Bharti was up Rs 2 at Rs 214. HDFC Bank and Satyam also finished with gains.

BHEL slipped 2% (Rs 14) to Rs 741. L&T dropped 2% (Rs 19) to Rs 986. ONGC was down a per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 813. Tisco declined Rs 4 to Rs 386. Maruti, HDFC Bank, Wipro and Zee also declined.