Bolstered by heavy FII inflows and economic fundamentals, the Sensex on Tuesday soared to the all-time closing high of 6234.29.

The BSE barometer had almost touched the historic intra-day high of 6249.60 hit on January 9, 2004, by rising to 6248.43 during the session.

The Sensex ended 76 points higher at 6,234. The Nifty closed 19 points higher at 1,959.

Reliance came off from its intra-day high, and added 1.36% (Rs 7) to Rs 517. HLL, after a mixed outing, ended 2.85% higher (Rs 4) at Rs 145. ITC, however, after a positive opening, slipped into the red to close weaker at Rs 1,288 - down Rs 2.

Infosys advanced 2.75% (Rs 57) to Rs 2,148. While Wipro added Rs 4 to Rs 766, Satyam was up a rupee at Rs 433.

ONGC ended off-highs with a per cent gain (Rs 8) at Rs 814.

Bharti jumped 3% (Rs 5) to Rs 174. While HDFC moved up 4% (Rs 31) to Rs 801, Hindalco added 1.59% (Rs 20) TO Rs 1,307. L&T shot up 2.89% (Rs 25) to Rs 903.

HPCL, however, was down 2.25% (Rs 8) at Rs 339.

Infosys Technologies, Ranbaxy, L&T, ONGC, HLL, Hindalco, HDFC, Hero Honda, Bharti Tele-Venture, SBI, ICICI Bank and Wipro stole the limelight on heavy buying support.

Reliance group counters RIL, REL, Reliance Capital and IPCL also recovered smartly on short covering by operators after over a week-long battering triggered by differences between the Ambani brothers over "ownership issues".

Auto, cement and pharma counters largely displayed weak trends due to profit-taking.