Sensex extends gains

The Sensex is now at 16,219, up 181 points. The NSE Nifty is at 4,857, up 55 points.
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(Updated at 1420hrs)

The Sensex continues to exhibit firm trend and is now at 16,150, up 111 points. The NSE Nifty is at 4,835, up 33 points.

Jaiprakash Associates is the top gainer on the Sensex, up 3% at Rs 136. Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Hindalco have advanced 2% each to Rs 549, Rs 696 and Rs 143, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever, Sterlite, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank and DLF have advanced 1.5% each.

Bharti Airtel has declined 4% to Rs 273. HDFC Bank, Hero Honda, Tata Power and NTPC have slipped below 1% each.

Among the sectoral indices, metal and the oil & gas indices have advanced 1% each.

The market breadth has turned marginally positive, out of 2,803 shares traded, 1,387 have advanced and 1,316 have declined so far on the BSE.