Banking stocks in limelight

Buying has spruced up in heavyweights, banking and other select old economy stocks, with the Sensex gaining in current trades gaining 73 points to 7,218. The Nifty is up 19 points at 2,198.

Reliance Industries has advanced 1.33% (Rs 8) to Rs 622. ITC has moved up 1.52% (Rs 25) to Rs 1,705.

Bharti has soared 4.78% (Rs 12) to Rs 253. HDFC is up 1.11% (Rs 10) at Rs 914.

SBI has jumped 1.44% (Rs 10) to Rs 720. HDFC Bank (up Rs 7 or 1.11% to Rs 647) is trading with steady gains.

Other banking stocks have attracted strong buying support. Federal Bank has spurted 9.67% (Rs 17) to Rs 193. While J&K Bank has surged 8.36% (Rs 33) to Rs 433, Corporation Bank has advanced 6.14% (Rs 24) to Rs 410. Vijaya Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Indus Ind Bank, Canara Bank and UTI Bank have notched up gains between 3-5%.

Himachal Futuristics is leading the volume chart, with the counter registering a volume of over 1.50 crore on the BSE, followed by Reliance Capital (69.83 lakh) and Tata Tele (39.76 lakh), respectively.

L&T is up 1.50% (Rs 18) at Rs 1,218.