The Sensex on Thursday opened with a gain of 1 point at 4,849, but slipped into the red to touch a low of 4,845 in early deals. The markets flared up in mid-morning trades as buying in heavyweight, PSU, cement and auto pivotals lifted the index to an intra-day high of 4,900.

Although the markets pared gains considerably by mid-noon trades, renewed buying in tech and other select old economy counters towards the fag-end saw the Sensex closing with a gain of 40 points at 4,888.

The Nifty also had a decent outing today, and rose 18 points to end at 1,541.

While tech pivotals firmed up on renewed buying support, heavyweights ended with modest gains.

Infosys attracted considerable buying in the afternoon trades, and moved up 1.59% (Rs 23) to finish at Rs 1,443. Wipro jumped 2.57% (Rs 13) to end at Rs 525. Satyam was up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 326.

Reliance added a per cent (Rs 2) to Rs 420. HLL was up a rupee at Rs 123. ITC, however, slipped from higher levels to end 1.51% lower (Rs 15) at Rs 994.

Select old economy stocks attracted considerable buying support.

Tisco flared up 4.32% (Rs 14) to Rs 327. Hindalco shot up 2.79% (Rs 30) to Rs 1,092. Tata Power gained 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 254. ICICI Bank (up Rs 4 or 1.66% to Rs 239). Reliance Energy, however, lost 1.56% (Rs 9) to Rs 571.

PSU, cement, auto and pharma majors, too, ended at higher levels.

HPCL traded in a narrow range to close with a gain of 2% (Rs 6) at Rs 288. ONGC ended with a gain of Rs 2 at Rs 655. SBI closed up a notch at Rs 431. MTNL, however, shed nearly 2% (Rs 3) to Rs 129.

Gujarat Ambuja soared 3.15% (Rs 8) to Rs 275. Grasim gained 1.52% (Rs 14) to Rs 951. ACC was down 1.20% (Rs 3) at Rs 232.

Hero Honda moved up 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 460. Tata Motors advanced 2.22% (Rs 9) to Rs 407. Maruti was up Rs 2 at Rs 420. Bajaj, however, lost 2.50% (Rs 22) to close at Rs 842.

Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's logged a per cent gain to Rs 976 (up Rs 5) and Rs 748 (up Rs 6), respectively. Cipla was up a rupee at Rs 231.