Sensex crosses 7,500-mark, media stocks surge

The market appreciated further in early noon trades as strong buying led by banking and other select majors triggered the rally, with the Sensex zooming past the 7,500-mark to touch a new high of 7,506.

The Sensex is now up 67 points at 7,490, while the Nifty has advanced 22 points to 2,288.

HDFC Bank has vaulted 5.91% (Rs 38) to Rs 687, and ICICI Bank has zoomed 5.11% (Rs 23) to Rs 478. SBI, too, is trading higher at Rs 732 - up Rs 11 or 1.52%.

ONGC has scaled up 2.39% (Rs 22) to Rs 958. While HLL is up 1.33% (Rs 2) at Rs 164, ITC is up a per cent (Rs 10) at Rs 1,654. Reliance, however, has eased to Rs 686 - down Rs 3.

Hindalco is still unchanged with a per cent gain (Rs 14) at Rs 1,280. Tisco is up 1.65% (Rs 6) at Rs 385.

Maruti, which reported a 32% growth in its Q1 net, has advanced 3% (Rs 14) to Rs 476. While Tata Motors is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 475, Hero Honda has lost 1.29% (Rs 8) to Rs 608.

TCS has dropped 1.15% (Rs 15) to Rs 1,279, while Satyam has declined 1.49% (Rs 8) to Rs 525. Infosys (down Rs 11 to Rs 2,225) and Wipro (down Rs 3 to Rs 712), too, are trading at lower levels.

Media & print stocks have notched up significant gains. Zee has soared 6.88% (Rs 12) to Rs 184. While UTV Software has jumped 4.28% (Rs 7) to Rs 174, NDTV has added 3.24% (Rs 7) to Rs 231. Balaji Television, Deccan Chronicle, TV Today, TV18 and Navneet Publications have gained between 2-3%.