Sensex firm, Reliance surges further

Buying at lower levels in heavyweight, select banking, tech and other old economy stocks has seen the index remain above the 6,500 levels. The Sensex is now up 64 points at 6,506. The Nifty has advanced 18 points to 2,063.

Reliance has moved up nearly 3% (Rs 15) to Rs 521 on fresh buying support. ITC has clocked a per cent (Rs 8) to Rs 1,304, after remaining range-bound for better part of the trading session. HLL is still trading marginally lower at Rs 144.

ONGC, on the news of its board clearing a 200% dividend, has added 1.62% (Rs 14) to Rs 857. While Tisco has jumped 3.29% (Rs 11) to Rs 358, HPCL has added 2.39% (Rs 9) to Rs 384.

HDFC Bank (up Rs 8 or 1.72% to Rs 501) and ICICI Bank (up Rs 8 or 2.12% to Rs 371) are holding on to their gains. SBI is up a rupee at Rs 610.

Infosys is up with a modest gain of Rs 3 at Rs 2,069. While Satyam has gained 1.58% (Rs 6) to Rs 409, Wipro has logged 1.38% gains (Rs 10) to Rs 758.

Metal stocks have firmed up on strong buying support with the BSE Metal index clocking 2.45% gains (up 140 pts) at 5,839.

Jindal Vijaynagar Steel has zoomed 16.58% (Rs 2) to Rs 16, and Ispat has notched up 8.38% gains (Rs 2) to Rs 21. While Tata Metals has logged 7.31% gains (Rs 12) to Rs 179, Hind Zinc has moved up 4.88% (Rs 7) to Rs 142. Bhushan Steel has advanced 4.51% to Rs 164, and Gujarat NRE Coke is up 4.43% at Rs 169.

While India Cement has added 7.90% (Rs 4) to Rs 60, CESC has surged 6.27% to Rs 156.