Mumbai: Select key stocks scored handsome gains aiding the SENSEX to close in positive territory in an otherwise lacklustre activity on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 20 on some purchases by foreign institutional investors (FIIs).

Gains, however, were outnumbered by losses as speculators and retail investors were continuous sellers in view of last day of the current accounting year.

The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened moderately up at 3,576.23 and later fluctuated in a narrow range between 3,587.20 and 3,556.74 on alternate bouts of buying and selling before ending at 3,581.32 as against a close of 3,560.32 on March 19, netting a modest rise of 21.00 points.

FIIs, which were net buyers to the tune of Rs 26 crore on March 18 and made net sales of Rs 19 crore on March 19, reportedly made fresh purchases in select heavyweights like HLL, ITC, RIL and BHEL.

The sentiment was partially aided by a mild price rally on Wall Street, which pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite Index moderately up on March 19.

Frontline software counters remained under pressure while second-rung ones, which received battering at initial stages, witnessed a smart rally on fairly good support.

The SENSEX was well supported by smart gains in HLL, Zee Telefilms, RIL, ITC, MTNL and BHEL.

PTI