Sensex pares gains, up 179pts

The Sensex has pared gains and is now up 179 points at 15,174. The index had touched a high of 15,338.

The NSE Nifty is up 29 points at 4,602.

HDFC has zoomed 4.5% to Rs 2,312, and ICICI Bank has soared 4.3% to Rs 799.

ONGC has gained 3.4% at Rs 1,026, and Wipro has advanced over 3% to Rs 389.

TCS has moved up 2.8% to Rs 832. Bharti Airtel and HDFC Bank have advanced 2.3% each to Rs 796 and Rs 1,299, respectively.

Ambuja Cements has added 2% to Rs 124. Larsen & Toubro has gained 1.8% at Rs 2,890.

ITC, Satyam, Infosys and ACC are up around 1.5% each to Rs 190, Rs 396, Rs 1,363 and Rs 788, respectively.

Jaiprakash Associates has slipped 2.3% to Rs 199, and Tata Steel has declined 1.3% to Rs 629.

Ranbaxy and Reliance Communications are down 1% each at Rs 445 and Rs 502, respectively.