Sensex steady, up 26 pts

Lack of fresh activity in most of the counters and weakness in pharma stocks has seen the index display a range-bound trend in mid-noon trades. While the Sensex is now up 26 points at 6,373, the Nifty is up a point at 1,968.

ONGC has advanced 1.47% (Rs 13) to Rs 867. Reliance and HLL are marginally up at Rs 547 and Rs 133, respectively. ITC, however, is trading with marginal losses at Rs 1,392.

Satyam has logged 3.80% gains (Rs 15) to Rs 420. Wipro has shed some gains on profit-taking to Rs 652 - up Rs 8 or 1.22%. Infosys, however, is still trading weak at Rs 1,991 - down Rs 7.

ICICI Bank has gained 2.26% (Rs 9) to Rs 405. While SBI is up a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 626, HDFC Bank is up a tad at Rs 540.

Grasim has moved up 1.36% (Rs 16) to Rs 1,215. Gujarat Ambuja at Rs 438 (up Rs 4) and ACC at Rs 380 (up Rs 4) are trading with steady gains.

HDFC and Tisco are still up a per cent each at Rs 732 (up Rs 6) and Rs 364 (up Rs 3), respectively.

Hero Honda and Tata Motors are up Rs 2 each at Rs 509 and Rs 439, respectively. While Maruti is up a rupee at Rs 440, Bajaj is trading in a narrow range at Rs 1,073 - down Rs 6.

Dr. Reddy's has shed nearly 3% (Rs 20) to Rs 662. While Ranbaxy has lost a per cent (Rs 9) to Rs 916, Cipla is down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 243.