Sensex flat; breadth fairly -ve

The Sensex is now up three points at 18,605.

SBI has surged 3.8% to Rs 2,236. Hindalco has rallied over 2% to Rs 189.

Bajaj Auto has gained 1.7% at Rs 2,463, and Maruti has added 1.4% to Rs 964.

ITC, TCS and ICICI Bank are up 1% each at Rs 187, Rs 959 and Rs 1,115, respectively.

Reliance Energy has dropped 2.7% to Rs 1,647. NTPC and DLF have shed 2.5% each at Rs 233 and Rs 850, repsectively.

HDFC and Larsen & Toubro have declined 1.5% each to Rs 2,560 and Rs 4,050, respectively. Reliance Communications has slipped 1.3% to Rs 673.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharti Airtel and Wipro are down 1% each at Rs 699, Rs 889 and Rs 432, respectively.

The market breadth is fairly negative - out of 2,571 stocks traded so far, 1,707 have declined, 835 have advanced and 29 are unchanged.