The Sensex ended at 17, 208, up 109 points, and the Nifty shut at 5,148, up 31 points (provisional closing).
________________________________________________
(Updated at 1453pm)
The Sensex is now flat at 17, 108, up 10 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,118, up one points.
________________________________________________
(Updated at 1339hrs)
The markets after touching a high of 17,159 is now firm at 17,132, up 34 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,127, up 10 points.
Among the Sensex-30 stocks, Bharti Airtel and Sterlite Industries have soared 2% each to Rs 293 and Rs 819, respectively.
Sun Pharma, Jaiprakash Associates, NTPC and ICICI Bank have advanced 1.5% each to Rs 1,667, Rs 147, Rs 202 and Rs 203, respectively.
Hindustan Unilever has declined 3.5% to Rs 230. Hindalco and Hero Honda are the other major losers on the BSE, down 1% each.
The BSE midcap and the smallcap indices are flat.
Among the sectoral indices, IT index is up 1% at 5,328. Scrips like TCS and Patni Computers have added 1% each on the IT index.
On the other hand there is weakness in the auto and the FMCG sectors.