Markets firm, ONGC in limelight

Further buying in heavyweights, select tech, banking and auto stocks has lifted the market sentiment in current trades. While the Sensex hs advanced 48 points to 6,735, the Nifty has moved up 17 points to 2,110.

The breadth of the market is firm with 1,160 advances and 392 losers on the BSE.

ONGC has flared up 2.67% (Rs 23) to Rs 879. While Reliance has inched up by 1.13% (Rs 6) to Rs 555, HLL is trading marginally lower at Rs 146.

Infosys has edged higher by a per cent (Rs 16) to Rs 2,199. Wipro (up Rs 6 to Rs 677) and Satyam (up Rs 2 to Rs 399) continue to trade at steady levels.

SBI has clocked a per cent gain (Rs 6) to Rs 712. While ICICI Bank, too, is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 392, HDFC Bank is up a rupee at Rs 577.

Bajaj has scaled up 2.28% (Rs 24) to Rs 1,068. While Tata Motors has gained nearly 2% (Rs 9) to Rs 473, Maruti is up 1.42% (Rs 7) at Rs 469.

L&T has gained 1.47% (Rs 16) to Rs 1,130. Tata Power and Tisco are up a per cent each at Rs 402 and Rs 432, respectively. Bharti, after rallying sharply yesterday, is trading lower by 1.25% (Rs 3) at Rs 233.

Metal stocks have attracted buying support. Tata Sponge has spurted 7.62% (Rs 15) to Rs 207, while Uttam Galva has jumped 6.56% (Rs 3) to Rs 46. Gujarat NRE Coke, Sterlite Industries, Essar Steel, Lloyd Steel, Sun Iron & Steel and Ispat are up in a range of 3-4%.

Crompton Greaves, on reports of takeover of the transformer businesses of the Belgium-bases Pauwels Group, has soared 8% (Rs 32) to Rs 423.

Dena Bank has gained 6.36% (Rs 2) to Rs 34. Vijaya Bank and Syndicate Bank are up nearly 4% each at Rs 65 and Rs 62, respectively. BoI is up 2.81% at Rs 99.