Sensex pares gains, up 79pts; ICICI, Bharti slip

The Sensex has pared gains and is now up 79 points at 18,794.

Reliance Communications has zoomed 5.5% to Rs 778. Hindalco has soared 4.6% to Rs 207.

NTPC has surged 3.7% to Rs 229. Reliance, Reliance Energy and Tata Steel rallied 3% each to Rs 2,772, Rs 1,816 and Rs 895, respectively.

Ranbaxy has gained 2.5% at Rs 431. Larsen & Toubro and ACC have advanced around 2% each to Rs 3,362 and Rs 1,225, respectively.

Cipla, SBI and BHEL have moved up around 1.5% each to Rs 182, Rs 1,858 and Rs 2,315, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra and Dr.Reddy's are up over 1% each to Rs 790 and Rs 613, respectively.

ICICI Bank has dropped 2.4% to Rs 1,090. Bharti Airtel has slipped over 2% to Rs 1,080.

HDFC Bank has shed 1.4% to Rs 1,439.