Marketmen said expectations that the government would issue an ordinance allowing companies to buy back their shares also triggered late buying in heavy-weighted stocks.

They said ahead of tomorrow's settlement, short-sellers were seen covering-up their positions, which also aided late recovery in stock prices. They said while domestic funds made sizeable purchases at strong Indian national company stocks, foreign funds picked-up stocks of multi-nationals and software companies. The Delhi index ended 3.79 points up at 642.98 points. ``Apart from massive buying by domestic funds, better half yearly working results by MTNL, a state-owned telecom company, also enthused the sentiments,'' said a DSE stock broker. MTNL shares, after remaining subdued for the better part of the session,rebounded to close Rs 2.45 higher at Rs 178. Though it dropped to Rs 171.55.