Firm Day: Sensex up 698pts; Reliance up 5%

The Sensex is now up 698 points to 17,647.

The NSE Nifty has gained 211 points to 5,140.

BHEL has zoomed 10% to Rs 2,180, and Hindalco has soared nearly 9% to Rs 163.

Reliance Communications has surged 8% to Rs 603, and Reliance Energy has rallied 7.3% to Rs 603.

DLF has moved up 6.5% to Rs 869. Larsen & Toubro, ICICI Bank and Hindustan Unilever have advanced nearly 6% each to Rs 3,469, Rs 1,163 and Rs 204, respectively.

HDFC Bank, ONGC, NTPC and Reliance have gained nearly 5% each at Rs 1,540, Rs 990, Rs 197 and Rs 2,499, respectively.

Grasim, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Steel are up nearly 4% at Rs 2,840, Rs 599 and Rs 787, respectively.

Out of 2,676 stocks traded so far, 1,805 have advanced, 826 have declined and 45 are unchanged.