Financial institutions HDFC, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank built on their early gains to move higher in late trading on the BSE on Friday.

At 3.15 pm HDFC was up 4.57 per cent at Rs 1,174.75. The share had ended the previous session at Rs 1,123.45.

ICICI Bank rode up 2.81 per cent to quote at Rs 362.60 as against Rs 352.70 at close yesterday.

The markets ended the second trading day of the new year on a positive note, with the Sensex gaining nearly 400 points and the Nifty notching up gains of over 100 points in a rally led by financial sector shares. Overall sentiment was buoyed by a report that showed manufacturing growth had surged to a two-year high in December.

Tata Motors sped up 2.56 per cent at Rs 511. The share had ended the overnight session at Rs 498.25. The automaker today announced that it recorded a 10 per cent growth in sales during the month of December.

BHEL held firm to trade at Rs 275.05, up 2.52 per cent on its Thursday close at Rs 268.30.

Axis Bank gained 2.50 per cent at Rs 514.50 as against Rs 501.95 at close yesterday.