Sensex ends up 489 pts

The Sensex ends (provisional) at 18217 - up 489 points. Nifty ended at 5,462 - up 152 points.
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(Updated at 1426 hrs)

The market continue to trade with solid gains as we head into the final hour of trades. The Sensex has surged over 400 points, and is now at 18,141. After having rallied over 250 points on Friday, the Sensex look set for another strong close today.

The NSE Nifty has added 125 points to 5428. Just two off the 50 stocks in the index are in red.

Tata Motors continues to top the gainers list on the back of extra-ordianry performance in the December quarter. The stock is now up over 6% at Rs 1,194.

JP Associates has surged 5.5% at Rs 87, and Larsen & Toubro has added 5.2% to Rs 1,642.

Suzlon and Kotak Mahindra Bank also have rallied over 5% each to Rs 48 and Rs 397, respectively.

Jindal Steel, Sesa Goa, BPCL, BHEL, SBI, Hero Honda, Maruti, HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Tata Power, IDFC, Dr.Reddy's, Reliance Capital, Bajaj Auto, Hindalco, HDFC, Reliance Power, Punjab National Bank and Power Grid are up 2.5-4.5% each.