Sensex steady, up 22 pts

The market, which pared gains in the first-half, is displaying a range-bound trend in early noon trades. While cement counters and select heavyweights continue to trade at higher levels, select tech and auto stocks are witnessing weak trends.

The Sensex, as a result, is now up 22 points at 6,487, while the Nifty is steady at 2,028 - up three points.

HLL has  moved up 2.15% (Rs 3) to Rs 135. While ITC is still trading with a per cent gain (Rs 8) at Rs 1,411, Reliance is marginally up at Rs 549.

ONGC, however, is lacklustre at Rs 882 - down Rs 3.

HDFC Bank has gained 2% (Rs 11) to Rs 570. SBI and ICICI Bank are up Rs 3 each at Rs 649 and Rs 411, respectively.

Gujarat Ambuja has advanced 5.68% (Rs 23) to Rs 429. While Grasim has gained 1.23% (Rs 15) to Rs 1,215, ACC is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 366.

BHEL at Rs 799 (up Rs 8), HDFC at Rs 715 (up Rs 5), HPCL at Rs 328 (up Rs 5) and L&T at Rs 979 (up Rs 12) are trading with steady gains. Tisco, however, is down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 386.

Infosys has extended its losses with a per cent dip (Rs 18) at Rs 2,100. While Satyam is also trading at lower levels at Rs 407, Wipro is up with a steady gain of Rs 3 at Rs 649.

Hero Honda (down Rs 6 or 1.21% to Rs 519), Bajaj (down Rs 2 to Rs 1,078) and Tata Motors (down a rupee to Rs 419) continue to exhibit weakness. Maruti, however, is trading higher with a per cent gain (Rs 4) at Rs 412.