Sensex gains 56pts; SKF jumps 14%

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 18 points 6,594, and moved in positive zone right through the session today. After touching a high of 6,640 points in early noon deals, the Sensex finally closed with a gain of 56 points at 6,634.

While 24 index scrips advanced with a volume of 1.42 crore shares totalling Rs 673 crore, six declined with a volume of eight lakh shares for Rs 44 crore.

Heavyweights lead the rally today. Infosys gained nearly 3% (Rs 59) to Rs 2,103. Reliance was up a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 549. SBI also gained nearly a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 654. ITC was marginally (Rs 4) higher at Rs 1,334. While ONGC was up Rs 3 at Rs 821, and HLL was up a rupee at Rs 155.

Maruti zoomed 3.6% (Rs 17) to Rs 498. Hero Honda advanced over 3.5% (Rs 19) to Rs 550. Bajaj was up 1.6% (Rs 17) at Rs 1,087. Tata Motors was up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 504.

While Satyam gained nearly 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 410, Wipro was up 1.6% (Rs 11) at Rs 695.

Bharti, BHEL, Reliance Energy, Hindalco, Tisco and Tata Power also finished with gains.

ACC was down a rupee at Rs 379. Gujarat Ambuja was down Rs 2 at Rs 451, but Grasim was up a notch at Rs 1,351.

HDFC, HDFC Bank, HPCL and L&T also declined.

Select mid-caps logged sharp gains today. SKF India advanced nearly 14% (Rs 23) to Rs on 189 news that the board will meet soon to consider a delisting proposal.

Titan, which was locked at its 20% upper limit, advanced another 8% (Rs 16) to Rs 224 on sustained buying.

Jindal Vijaynagar logged a huge volume of over 2.04 crore shares, but the scrip tanked 11% to Rs 19.