Sensex up 50pts; Metal Index zooms 4%

After surging to an intra-day high of 6,568 towards the fag-end, the Sensex ended at another all-time closing high at 6,563 (up 50 pts) on firm buying in select heavyweights, banking and metal stocks. The Nifty added nine points to 2,072.

Reliance attracted buying support and moved up 2.18% (Rs 11) to Rs 528. While ITC clocked a per cent gain (Rs 9) to Rs 1,318, HLL closed down a rupee at Rs 144.

SBI jumped 1.96% (Rs 12) to Rs 625. While HDFC Bank gained 2.74% (Rs 14) to Rs 518, ICICI Bank, however, ended marginally lower at Rs 373.

HPCL advanced 4.19% (Rs 16) to Rs 404. ONGC, however, exhibited weakness and dropped 2.74% (Rs 23) to Rs 824.

Bharti added 1.73% (Rs 4) to Rs 212. BHEL gained 2.46% (Rs 18) to Rs 755.

Infosys (up Rs 4 to Rs 2,062), Wipro (up a rupee to Rs 752) and Satyam (up Rs 3 to Rs 413) ended with modest gains.

The BSE Metal index gained over 4% (240 points) to 6,200 on sustained buying.

Tisco zoomed 4.5% (Rs 17) to Rs 391. Hindalco was up 4% (Rs 48) to Rs 1,370. SAIL was also up 4% at Rs 64. Hindustan Zinc jumped over 6% (Rs 9) to Rs 151. Sterlite was up 3% (Rs 20) at Rs 605. Jindal Vijayagar advanced 8% to Rs 18. Jindal Steel, Jisco, Jindal Stainless, National Aluminum and Sesa Goa also finished on a firm note.