Sensex opened at 3074.44 and moved between 3118.91 and 3072.61 before closing at 3110.33, showing a handsome gain of 64.04 points from the previous close of 3046.29. Sensex, in the meanwhile, has reported a net gain of 146.88 points during last three sessions. The BSE-100 index rose smartly by 30.18 points to 1384.87 as against the previous close of 1354.69.

The bull charge in the ITC counter was spurred by the company getting a month's extension to settle excise duty through Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme (KVSS).Tata group shares attracted fresh support and posted gains. Foreign funds purchased ITC while local funds also purchased this scrip in small lots. The turnover amounted to Rs 1514.29 crore with ITC in the lead totalling Rs 321.39 crore. ITC flared up by Rs 55.50 to Rs 778.25.On the NSE,led by ITC, pivotals recovered sharplyon the first day of the currrent settlement on all round buying.The market opened on buoyant note and prices improved further during the trading session with significant rise in select scrips.The S&P Nifty rallied by 27.30 to close at 899.95 from the previous close of 872.65.The total turnover was Rs 2,157.68 crore.

The exchange witnessed a large number of 809 scrips advance with a small amount of 184 scrips decline and 79 scrips remain unchanged. Higher number of 131 securities had hit their price bands today, the NSE said.