Mumbai: Select heavyweight counters scored moderate gains, aiding the SENSEX to end in positive terrain, after a four-session string of losses in limited activity, on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 28 on buying support in the form of squaring up in derivatives.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have slowed down activity making relatively small purchases in IT stocks like Infosys Technologies, Satyam Computers and a few others including some second-rung counters.

The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened moderately up at 3464.32 and later fluctuated in a narrow range between 3499.53 and 3462.12 before closing at 3469.35 as against March 27 close of 3459.08, a net gain of 10.27 points.

The broad-based BSE-100 Index rose by 9.26 points to 1716.28 from the previous close of 1707.02.

Generally, speculators had confined their dealings to squaring up positions due to month-end with today being last Thursday when positions are squared up in derivatives, market sources said.

Some funds buying was also noticed, sources said attributing selective purchases to an attempt by these funds to push up the net asset value of their respective units.

The cautious approach by marketmen was also due to the long weekend with the market closed tomorrow for "Holi and Good Friday" holiday.

PTI