Sensex firm in noon trades

Steady buying mainly in index heavyweight - Reliance has helped the markets move to higher levels.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,181, and is now up 140 points at 17,162.

Reliance alone accounts of 75 points gain on the Sensex. The stock is now up over 3% at Rs 2,193.

ITC and Tata Steel have gained around 2% each at Rs 266 and Rs 562, respectively.

Tata Power, Sun Pharma, Grasim and ICICI Bank are the other major gainers.

Bharti Airtel however has shed 3.5% at Rs 279 as the traiff-war continues. Hindalco is down over 1% at Rs 133.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 2,616 stocks traded so far, 1,637 have moved up and 895 are down.