Sensex gains 24 pts, banking stocks up

The Sensex has gained 24 points to 6,594. Buying in select old and economy counters have picked up after a steady opening. The Nifty is steady at 2,064 - up three points.

Reliance is up with a steady gain of Rs 3 at Rs 542. HLL is up a notch at Rs 141, while ITC has extended its losses by a per cent (Rs 12) to Rs 1,275.

HDFC Bank, after a steady opening, has logged 1.63% gains (Rs 9) to Rs 578. While ICICI Bank is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 371, SBI is up Rs 2 at Rs 687.

Grasim, Gujarat Ambuja and ACC are up a per cent each at Rs 1,331, Rs 437 and Rs 364, respectively.

Bharti has moved up 1.66% (Rs 4) to Rs 223, while Reliance Energy has advanced 2.50% (Rs 14) to Rs 565. ONGC, however, is trading weaker by Rs 3 at Rs 839.

Auto, tech and pharma counters are exhibting mixed trends.

Finolex has climbed 4.78% (Rs 3) to Rs 74, and Jaiprakash Associates is up 4.70% (Rs 9) at Rs 203. While Bombay Dyeing has gained 4.14% (Rs 12) to Rs 309, Indian Cement has added 3.86% (Rs 2) to Rs 66. Sterlite Opticals, Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals, Adani Exports, FACT, Indo Gulf Fertilisers and UTI Bank are up in a range of 3-4%.

Container Corp, however, has dropped 6.79% (Rs 59) to Rs 810. While Nicholas Piramal has shed 3% (Rs 8) to Rs 260, Great Eastern is down 2.54% at Rs 176.