The Sensex skyrocketed by 223 points to touch 5817 points, indicating that the bulls are back in the market.

Heavy buying was seen heavyweight scrips like Infosys, Reliance, SBI, and HLL. The eager sentiment in the market lifted the Sensex by almost 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty was up 78 points at 1847 points, up 4.35 per cent.

The Sensex registered a healthy gain of 52 points to open at 5,646, but trimmed its gains to touch a low of 5,597 on profit-taking in select stocks in mid-morning deals.

While early noon trades witnessed steady buying, the markets, however, flared up towards the closing bell, as unprecedented buying support across the board saw the index zoom past the 5,800 mark to touch a high of 5,833.

The Sensex, finally on the last day of the trading week, halted its three day losing streak with a huge gain of 223 points at 5,817.

The Nifty, too, snapped the three day losing streak, and ended above the 1,800 levels with a healthy gain of 78 points at 1,848.

Reliance soared 4.88% (Rs 26) to Rs 559. HLL closed up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 195. ITC, however, dropped 3.58% (Rs 39) to Rs 1,040 after its quarterly results failed to meet the market expectations.

SBI vaulted 7.20% (Rs 42) to Rs 624. The banking major registered a volume of over 42.77 lakh on the BSE with a value of Rs 257 crore. BHEL shot up 10.31% (Rs 53) to Rs 565. While HPCL added 3% (Rs 13) to Rs 426, MTNL bounced from its lows to end 2% up (Rs 3) at Rs 135.

Infosys spurted 6% (Rs 311) to Rs 5,484. Wipro garnered 5.37% gains (Rs 88) to Rs 1,723. Satyam, on the back of a huge volume of over 70.81 lakh on BSE with a value for Rs 234 crore, advanced 9.34% (Rs 29) to close at Rs 342.

Bajaj notched up 4.52% gains (Rs 43) to Rs 984. While Tata Motors zoomed 12.15% (Rs 51) to Rs 467, Hero Honda rose 7.11% (Rs 30) to Rs 457.

Grasim (up Rs 49 or 4.51% to Rs 1,134), L&T (up Rs 33 or 6.59% to Rs 534), Gujarat Ambuja (up Rs 11 or 4.09% to Rs 288) and ACC (up Rs 13 or 5.51% to Rs 243) registered huge gains on sustained buying support.

ONGC at Rs 783 (up Rs 52 or 7.13%), BSES at Rs 517 (up Rs 41 or 8.65%) and Bharti Tele at Rs 127 (up Rs 5 or 3.72%) ended with steep gains.

Tata Power moved up 6.28% (Rs 23) to Rs 384. Tisco logged 8.46% gains (Rs 33) to Rs 427. Zee raked in 9.17% gains (Rs 13) to Rs 156.

Dr. Reddy's added 2.62% (Rs 35) to Rs 1,372. Cipla closed with a gain of 2.48% (Rs 31) to Rs 1,300.

Ranbaxy, which reported a Q4 net decline of 52% at Rs 102 crore as against Rs 212.7 crore in Q3FY03, and an increase of 25% in net profit at Rs 783.7 crore for the year ended December 31, 2003 as against Rs 623.6 crore in FY02, ended 1.84% higher (Rs 19) at Rs 1,030 on the BSE.

Sensex @ 1430

The market, which displayed steady trends till early noon deals, has suddenly come alive as renewed buying is seen all across the board. The Sensex has spurted 143 points to 5,737. The Nifty has advanced 56 points to 1,826.

Infosys has extended its gains by 3.12% (Rs 161) to Rs 5,335. While Wipro has surged 3.94% (Rs 64) to Rs 1,700, Satyam has shot up 8.62% (Rs 27) to Rs 340.

Reliance has edged higher by 3.06% (Rs 16) to Rs 549. HLL has bounced from its lows with a gain of 1.71% (Rs 3) to Rs 196. ITC, however, has dropped 5.69% (Rs 61) to Rs 1,017.

SBI has jumped 4.45% (Rs 26) to Rs 608. While BHEL has vaulted 7.51% (Rs 38) to Rs 550, HPCL has added 2.50% (Rs 10) to Rs 424. MTNL, however, is still trading in the red with a loss of 1.77% (Rs 2) at Rs 130.

Tata Motors has zoomed 10.62% (Rs 44) to Rs 461. Hero Honda, on fresh buying support, has advanced 4.66% (Rs 20) to Rs 446. Bajaj is up 3.59% (Rs 34) at Rs 975.

ONGC at Rs 765 (up Rs 34 or 4.68%), Zee at Rs 152 (up Rs 9 or 6.13%) BSES at Rs 510 (up Rs 34 or 7.15%), Tisco at Rs 422 (up Rs 28 or 7%) and Tata Power at Rs 381 (up Rs 20 or 5.50%) have gained considerably on sustained buying support.

L&T has mopped up 5.12% gains (Rs 26) to Rs 527. Grasim at Rs 1,104 (up Rs 19 or 1.74%) and Gujarat Ambuja at Rs 283 (up Rs 7 or 2.44%) have registered gains on renewed buying support.

Cipla has upped its gains by 2% (Rs 26) to Rs 1,295. Dr. Reddy's is trading steady at Rs 1,367 - up Rs 30 or 2.23%. Ranbaxy has gained 1.74% (Rs 18) to Rs 1,029.

Hindalco has pared its losses on buying support, and is now down a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,260.

Sensex @ 1340 hrs

The market is displaying a cautious optimism after a healthy upsurge in early deals lifted the index above the 5,700 levels.

The Sensex currently is up 74 points at 5,668. The Nifty has again touched 1800, up 30 points.

Profit-taking, which emerged in mid-morning trades, continues to keep the index at steady levels owing to healthy correction in ITC, Hindalco and ICICI Bank.

Infosys has slightly come off from higher levels, and is up 1.86% (Rs 96) at Rs 5,270. Wipro at Rs 1,664 (up Rs 29 or 1.77%) and Satyam at Rs 328 (up Rs 15 or 4.80%) are trading at higher levels since opening trades.

BHEL has logged 3.51% gains (Rs 18) to Rs 530. SBI and HPCL are trading with a per cent gain each at Rs 591 (up Rs 8) and Rs 418 (up Rs 4), respectively. MTNL, however, has declined 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 130.

Reliance has trimmed its gains on profit-taking, and is up 1.55% (Rs 8) at Rs 541. ITC has slumped 6% (Rs 65) to Rs 1,013 on relentless selling pressure. HLL is down a rupee at Rs 192.

Bajaj contiues to attract buying support, and has advacned 3.59% (Rs 34) to Rs 975. Tata Motors continues to attract buying support on its impressive quarterly results, and the counter has jumped 6.35% (Rs 26) to Rs 443. Hero Honda is witnessing a steady trend, and is up 1.38% (Rs 6) at Rs 432.

BSES (up Rs 14 or 3% to Rs 490) is trading firm on buying support. HDFC has clocked a per cent gain (Rs 8) to Rs 632. ONGC has added 1.81% (Rs 13) to Rs 743. While Tisco has added 4.58% (Rs 18) to Rs 412, Tata Power is up 1.79% (Rs 6) at Rs 368. Zee also is trading in the gainers list at Rs 147 - up Rs 5 or 3.26%.

Dr. Reddy's is unchanged from its previous gains, and is still up 1.71% (Rs 23) at Rs 1,360. Cipla and Ranbaxy are still up a per cent each at Rs 1,285 (up Rs 16) and Rs 1,018 (up Rs 7), respectively.

L&T has gained 3.13% (Rs 16) to Rs 517. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja are up Rs 3 each at Rs 1,088 and Rs 279, respectivley. ACC has slipped into the red with a loss of 1.76% (Rs 4) at Rs 226.

Hindalco has dropped 3.51% (Rs 45) to Rs 1,228, after its third quarterly results failed to meet the market expectations. ICICI Bank, which opened weak, has lost further ground on selling pressure, and is down 3.13% (Rs 9) at Rs 283.

Sensex @ 1300 hrs

The markets continued to be volatile in afternoon trades with the BSE Sensex at 5637 points, an increase of 43 points.

At 1300 hours, the NSE Nifty was at 1790 points, up 20 points.

The market gave up its earlier gains on account of heavy selling pressure in heavyweights like HLL, MTNL, ITC, ICICI Bank and Hindalco.

However, the Old Economy biggies, in sectors like automobile, cement and power, continued to gain.

Major technology stocks too were up slightly, as were some bank and PSU scrips.

Sensex @ 1200 hrs

The Sensex, which touched a high of 5709 in the early morning, gave up most of it gains in early afternoon trade. In a highly volatile trading pattern, the markets touched a low of 5604 points. The Sensex was ruling at 5611 points, up a mere 17 points at noon.

The NSE Nifty too lost its early gains and was up at 1781, up 11 points at noon.

Sensex @ 1110 hrs

Buying at lower levels in almost all the sectors has kept the index at higher levels after a firm opening. The Sensex has stretched its gains, and it is now up 85 points at 5,679.

The Nifty has crossed the 1,800 mark, and is up 32 points at 1,802.

Infosys has registered a healthy gain of 3.17% (Rs 164) to Rs 5,337. Wipro at Rs 1,680 (up Rs 44 or 2.72%) and Satyam at Rs 330 (up Rs 17 or 5.44%) have mopped up significant gains on sustained buying support.

Reliance has upped its gains on sustained buying support, and has moved up 3.17% (Rs 17) to Rs 550. HLL is unchanged with a rupee gain at Rs 194. ITC, however has dropped nearly 5% (Rs 53) to Rs 1,025.

SBI has advanced 3% (Rs 16) to Rs 599. While BHEL has moved up 3% (Rs 15) to Rs 527, HPCL is up 1.68% (Rs 7) at Rs 421.

Tata Motors has shot up 6.53% (Rs 27) to Rs 444. While Bajaj has added 3.59% (Rs 34) to Rs 975, Hero Honda is steady with a gain of Rs 6 at Rs 433.

ONGC at Rs 750 (up Rs 19 or 2.63%), BSES at Rs 492 (up Rs 16 or 3.36%), Tisco at Rs 414 (up Rs 20 or 5.13%) and Tata Power at Rs 370 (up Rs 9 or 2.45%) are trading at higher levels. Zee, too, has notched up 3.36% gains (Rs 5) to Rs 148.

L&T has logged 3.70% gains (Rs 19) to Rs 520. Grasim and Gujarat Ambuja are up a per cent each at Rs 1,095 (up Rs 10) and Rs 280 (up Rs 4), respectively. ACC is trading with a steady gain of Rs 3 at Rs 234.

Dr. Reddy's has gained 2.10% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,365. Cipla and Ranbaxy are up a per cent each at Rs 1,281 (up Rs 12) and Rs 1,025 (up Rs 14), respectively.

ICICI Bank, however, has lost 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 286.

Sensex @1010 hrs

The Sensex opened 52 points higher at 5,646. Buying spree across-the-board lifted the index above the 5,700 levels to a high of 5,709.

Though the Sensex has slipped below the 5,700 levels, it is still firm with a gain of 67 points at 5,661. The Nifty has added 28 points to 1,798.

Reliance has advanced 2% (Rs 10) to Rs 543. HLL is up a rupee at Rs 194. ITC, however, has declined 1.23% (Rs 13) to Rs 1,065.

Infosys has advanced 2.64% (Rs 136) to Rs 5,310. While Satyam has moved up 4% (Rs 12) to Rs 325, Wipro has gained 1.74% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,664.

SBI has added 2.14% (Rs 12) to Rs 595. While BHEL is up 1.55% (Rs 8) at Rs 520, HPCL is up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 419,

Bajaj has notched up 3.85% gains (Rs 36) to Rs 977. While Tata Motors has clocked 3.41% gains (Rs 14) to Rs 431, Hero Honda is up a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 433.

Grasim (up Rs 10 or 1% to Rs 1,095), L&T (up Rs 10 or 2% to Rs 511), Gujarat Ambuja (up Rs 2 to Rs 278) and ACC (up Rs 5 or 2.26% to Rs 236) have commenced on a positive note.