The BSE Sensitive index improved from the opening level of 3111.18 to finish at 3135.42 points, showing a net gain of 40.17 points against the previous level of 3095.25 points. The BSE-100 index gained by 17.71 points to 1391.60 from the previous close of 1373.89 points.

According to brokers, the sentiment turned for the better following fresh buying by the FIIs mainly in index-based scrips like Dr Reddy's, BHEL, HPCL, MTNL and infotech shares like Pentafour Software and Satyam Computer. The uptrend in European markets also aided the bullish phase.

Satyam Computer clocked the highest turnover of Rs 282.95 crore of the total volume of business of Rs 1217.72 crore. Satyam Computer shot up by Rs 24 to Rs 539, ITC gained up by Rs 1.50 at Rs 661.50, Pentafour Software by Rs 10.50 at Rs 667.25, Dr Reddy's by Rs 22.50 at Rs 461.75, SBI by Rs 5.30 at Rs 199.30, Reliance by Rs 1.70 at Rs 123.60 and TELCO by Rs 2.90 at Rs 149.20. Zee Telefilms, however, eased by Rs 9.25 to Rs 688.50 on profit-taking.

On the National Stock Exchange(NSE), pivotals staged a fresh recovery on the first day of the current settlement on emergence of heavy buying which pushed the Nifty up by 10.50 points. The total turnover stood at Rs 1,340.90 crore. On the exchange about 677 scrips advanced, while 291 scrips declined and 93 scrips held steady. About 80 securities had hit their price bands.