Sensex crosses 18K, up 235pts

The Sensex is now up 235 points at 18,001.

The NSE Nifty is up 76 points at 5,278.

Hindalco has soared 5.7% to Rs 173. Bajaj Auto has surged 4.3% to Rs 2,165.

Ranbaxy has rallied 3.8% to Rs 394, and Tata Steel has gained 3.5% at Rs 806.

Hindustan Unilever and BHEL have moved up nearly 3% each to Rs 209 and Rs 2,296, respectively.

Tata Motors has advanced 2.3% to Rs 750. Reliance, ICICI Bank and ONGC are up nearly 2% each at Rs 2,562, Rs 1,184 and Rs 1,045, respectively.

Cipla and NTPC are up 1.5% each at Rs 183 and Rs 204, respectively.

Reliance Energy has dropped nearly 2% to Rs 1,677.
Maruti and Grasim have slipped 1.3% each to Rs 819 and Rs 2,810, respectively.

Out of 2,721 stocks traded so far, 1,760 have advanced, 905 have declined and 56 are unchanged.