Sensex steady, up 60 pts

Although the sentiment remains positive, profit-taking in select heavyweights, tech and other old economy stocks have trimmed the gains of the index in mid-morning trades.

The Sensex, as a result, is now up 60 points at 7,205, while the Nifty is higher at 2,193 - up 14 points.

The market breadth is firm, with 1,707 advances against 369 declines on the BSE.

Reliance Industries (up Rs 5 to Rs 619) has come off its early highs due to profit-taking, with the counter registering volumes of over 6.51 lakh.

ITC is up a per cent (Rs 17) at Rs 1,697. ONGC, after a firm opening, has slipped into the red to Rs 927 - down Rs 2.

Infosys is still trading with a per cent gain (Rs 23) at Rs 2,341. Wipro (up Rs 16 or 2.21% to Rs 726), TCS (up Rs 7 to Rs 1,317) and Satyam (up Rs 6 or 1.29% to Rs 497) have shed some gains on profit-taking.

SBI, on volumes of over 2.20 lakh, is up 1.25% (Rs 9) at Rs 719. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are up a per cent each at Rs 646 and Rs 425, respectively.

Bajaj has lost a per cent (Rs 14) to Rs 1,336, after opening higher. Other auto majors are up with steady gains.

HDFC has added 1.57% (Rs 14) to Rs 918. While Bharti has extended its gains by 1.88% (Rs 5) to Rs 246, Tisco, with a volume of over 10.20 lakh, is up 2.34% (Rs 8) at Rs 362.

Zee has soared 4.57% (Rs 7) to Rs 167, while Reliance Capital has gained 3.28% (Rs 13) to Rs 407.

Steel stocks have registered decent gains. Lloyd Steel has jumped 7.43% to Rs 17. Southern Iron & Steel, Sun Iron Steel, Ispat, Essar Steel, Sesa Goa, Uttam Galva, Mukand and Kalyani Steel are up in a range of 2-4%.