Auto, pharma stocks perk up

The Sensex is still trapped in the early morning range of 64-points, high of 17,504 and a low of 17,440. The index is now up 27 points at 17,488.

The BSE Auto and Healthcare indexes are up 0.8% each at 8,244 and 5,751, respectively. The IT index is up 0.5% at 5,266. The Oil & Gas index, however, has slipped 0.4% at 10,669.

Among the auto pack - Ashok Leyland has rallied 4.5% to Rs 65. Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors have gained 1.5% each at Rs 612 and Rs 779, respectively.

Pharma gainers - Jubilant Organosys has surged 3% to Rs 363. Dr.Reddy's, Cipla and Orchid Chemicals have gained 1-2% each. Biocon and Aurobindo Pharma are up 1% each.

Sterlite, ACC, Wipro and Infosys are the other prominent gainers.

NTPC and Reliance Communications have slipped 1.5% each to Rs 199 and Rs 188, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever is down 1% at Rs 267.

The market breadth is fairly positive - out of 2,662 stocks traded so far, 1,579 have advanced, 971 have declined and the rest are unchanged.

Reliance Power continues to trade firm at Rs 180 - up 2.5%. RNRL has crashed over 27% to Rs 46. The ADAG group firms yesterday agreed for a merger ratio of 4:1, i.e each RNRL shareholders holding four shares, will get one share of Reliance Power.