Sensex surges 197pts; NTPC down 3%

The Sensex is now up 197 points at 17,974.

Larsen & Toubro has zoomed 8% to Rs 3,130. BHEL has soared 5.5% to Rs 2,206.

Bharti Airtel has surged 3% to Rs 990, and Reliance has gained 2.8% at Rs 2,490.

Reliance Communications has rallied over 2% to Rs 648. Bajaj Auto has moved up 1.4% to Rs 2,615.

NTPC has plunged nearly 3% to Rs 220. Tata Motors has shed 2% at Rs 782, and Hindalco has slipped 1.8% to Rs 173.

ITC has dropped 1.6% to Rs 182. Tata Steel and ONGC are down around 1.5% each to Rs 852 and Rs 972, respectively.

ICICI Bank and ACC have declined over 1% each to Rs 1,048 and Rs 1,200, respectively.

Out of 2,769 stocks traded so far, 1,579 have declined, 1,126 have advanced and 64 are unchanged.