Sensex pares gains, up 27pts

The Sensex has erased most of its gains and is now up 27 points at 19,865. The index had touched a high of 20,204 in opening trades today.

Larsen & Toubro has zoomed 7% to Rs 4,540. HDFC Bank has soared 3% to Rs 1,702.

ONGC and BHEL have gained 2.5% each at Rs 1,280 and Rs 2,680, respectively. ICICI Bank has rallied 2.3% to Rs 1,286.

SBI and Hindalco have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 2,104 and Rs 200, respectively.

Infosys has advanced 1.5% to Rs 1,868. Ranbaxy and ITC are up 1% each at Rs 431 and Rs 913, respectively.

Bharti Airtel has plunged 4.4% to Rs 962. Hindustan Unilever has dropped 4% to Rs 199, and ITC has shed 2.7% to Rs 174.

Maruti and Cipla have slipped 1.4% each to Rs 1,058 and Rs 176, respectively.

Wipro, Tata Motors and Ambuja Cements are down over 1% each at Rs 499, Rs 749 and Rs 143, respectively.

Out of 2,577 stocks traded so far, 1,311 have advanced, 1,198 have declined and 68 are unchanged.