Sensex surges 173pts; Hindustan Unilever up 7%

The Sensex is now up 173 points at 15,408.

Hindustan Unilever has zoomed 7% to Rs 210. SBI has soared 6.4% to Rs 1,595, and Reliance Energy has surged nearly 6% to Rs 808.

Ambuja Cements has rallied 4.3% to Rs 130. Grasim has gained 3.5% at Rs 2,960.

ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Ranbaxy have advanced 2% each to Rs 933, Rs 2,475 and Rs 382, respectively.

Reliance Communications, Tata Steel and Satyam have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 547, Rs 663 and Rs 480, respectively.

ACC, BHEL and Maruti are up around 1.5% each at Rs 1,015, Rs 1,685 and Rs 841, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra has tumbled 4.5% to Rs 741. ITC has shed 3% to Rs 167.

Hindalco has slipped 1.5% to Rs 171, and Dr.Reddy's has declined 1% to Rs 636.

Out of 2,555 stocks traded so far, 1,562 have advanced, 932 have declined and 61 are unchanged.