<b>RBI Effect:</b> Sensex up 158pts

The Sensex and is now up 158 points at 10,374.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Y V Reddy has hiked the repo and reverse repo rate by 25 basis points. However, the CRR and bank rate remain unchanged.

ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have advanced 4.5% each to Rs 538 and Rs 762, respectively.

Reliance Communications and Dr.Reddy's have gained 3.5% each at Rs 249 and Rs 1,304, respectively.

HLL, ACC and NTPC are up nearly 3% each at Rs 235, Rs 812 and Rs 110, respectively.

Out of 2,365 stocks traded so far, 1,536 have advanced, 753 have declined and the rest are unchanged.