The sentiment was bullish at the major part of the session as software and pharma counters shot up on buying support. The start of the new account on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also boosted the sentiment. Sensex started higher at 4642.33 and touched the day's high of 4741.08. However, late profit-booking in index heavy-weights like Hindustan Lever, Infosys and ITC trimmed their early gains and pushed down Sensex to a low of 4631.76 before closing at 4687.23 with a net gain of 54.23 points compared to yesterday's close of 4633.00. The BSE-100 index rose by 36.96 points to 2170.46 from previous close of 2133.50.

Brokers said FIIs were booking profits at higher levels and shifting portfolio fromindex-linked cyclical stocks to software and pharmaceutical shares ahead of bullish forecasts for the second quarter results. But the undertone remained bullish with investors taking fresh positions in select scrips prompted by the latest exit poll which predicted political stability after the general elections.

The launch of American Depository Receipt (ADR) issue by ICICI at the New York Stock Exchange boosted the sentiment at the ICICI counter. The scrip opened at Rs 82.95 and closed at the day's high of Rs 85.85, showing a net gain of Rs 5.85 from the previous close of Rs 80.

Of the total specified scrips, 95 registered sharp to moderate gains while 55 showed losses. Satyam Computer was the most active scrip and clocked the highest turnover of Rs 294.39 crore of the total volume of business of Rs 2788.82 crore which is considerably up from yesterday's turnover of Rs 2615.76 crore. Satyam spurted by Rs 59.60 to Rs 1067. Zee Telefilms rose further by Rs 281.30 to Rs 4536.30, Ranbaxy by Rs 51 to Rs 1030,Pentafour software by Rs 13.10 to Rs 652.20, Digital Equipments by Rs 26.30 to Rs 791.30, Infosys by Rs 85.30 to Rs 7710, Hindustan Lever by Rs 21.15 to Rs 2501.05, ITC by Rs 16.25 to Rs 906 and Reliance by a rupee to Rs 186.50.