The Sensex closed at 17823, up with 0.74%, The index touched a high and a low of 18,296.53 and 17,718.88 respectively. While Nifty - 50 index closed at 5333, up with 0.58%, The index touched a high and a low of 18,296.53 and 17,718.88 respectively.

The 50-share S&P CNX Nifty finally settled at 5,333.25 after gaining 29.70 points. Nifty March 2011 futures closed at 5,343.05, at a premium of 9.80 over spot closing of 5,333.25, while Nifty April 2011 futures were at 5,357.00, at a premium of 23.75 points over spot closing. The near month March 2011 derivatives contract expire on Thursday, March 31, 2011. Nifty March futures saw an addition of 17.96% or 3.87 million (mn) units, taking the total outstanding open interest (OI) to 25.46 mn units.

For Nifty calls, 5500 strike price (SP) from the March series was the most active call with an addition of 0.46 mn or 10.14%. Among Nifty puts, 5300 SP from the February month expiry was the most active put with an addition of 9.20 mn or 15.01%. The maximum Call OI outstanding was at 5500 SP (5.07 mn) and that for Puts at 5300 SP (7.05). The respective Support and Resistance levels are: Resistance 5437.3 --Pivot Point 5,372.95--Support 5268.9. The Nifty Put Call Ratio (PCR) OI wise stood at 1.39 for February-month contracts.