The Sensex (BSE sensitive index) crossed the 3600-mark and touched 3697.68 before finishing at 3683.49 with a handsome gain of 85.91 points compared to the previous level of 3597.58. The BSE-100 index gained 35.46 points to 1621.36 from the previous level of 1585.90.

Brokers said the sentiment was boosted following reports that Satyam Computers had convened a board meeting on April 14 to propose bonus shares. The scrip hit the circuit filter at Rs 1502 due to the bonus news and recorded a high volume of about 3.25 lakh shares. Despite the shifting of several high-priced stocks to the demat segment, speculative buying re-emerged giving further push to rising prices. The localoperators purchased several other IT scrips.

The total volume of business was substantially low at Rs 1370.93 crore compared with previous turnover of Rs 1832.05 crore. Pentafour Software rose by Rs 86 to Rs 1162.25. ITC shot up by 33.75 to 952, Infosys Tech by Rs 197 to 2904.50, Tata Tea by Rs 20.75 to Rs 491 and Ranbaxy by Rs 33 to Rs 650.

On the NSE, share prices recovered smartly from the initial lows on the on the emergence of fresh buying support for squaring up positions on the last day of trading for the current settlement. The S&P CNX nifty opened lower at 1036.00 but later firmed up to close at 1054.60 with a net gain of 13.35 points from the previous close of 1041.25. The market witnessed a total turnover of Rs 2,582.84 crore. The exchange witnessed 342 scrips advance, 789 scrips decline and 51 scrips remain unchanged.