Sensex past 6,600-mark, up 47 pts

The upsurge in the market continues as the Sensex opened 31 points higher at 6,594. Buying in heavyweights, tech and banking stocks pulled the index above the 6,600-mark to an early high of 6,617. It is now up 47 points at 6,610. The Nifty is up 11 points at 2,083.

Reliance and ITC are up a per cent each at Rs 532 (up Rs 4) and Rs 1,325 (up Rs 7), respectively. HLL is down a rupee at Rs 144.

SBI is up Rs 3 at Rs 628. While HDFC Bank has gained 1.37% (Rs 7) to Rs 525, ICICI Bank has logged 1.81% gains (Rs 7) to Rs 780.

Infosys and Satyam have clocked a per cent gain each to Rs 2,080 (up Rs 18) and Rs 417 (up Rs 4), respectively. Wipro has also commenced in the green at Rs 758 - up Rs 6.

ONGC, after reporting losses yesterday, has added a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 829. While Tisco is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 395, HPCL is up Rs 2 at Rs 406.

Auto, cement and pharma counters have opened with steady gians.