Sensex up 131pts; BHEL surges 4%

The Sensex is now up 131 points at 17,781.

The NSE Nifty is up 57 points at 5,258.

Grasim and Reliance Energy have soared 4.5% each to Rs 3,027 and Rs 1,694, respectively.

BHEL has surged 3.7% to Rs 2,161. Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Infosys have rallied around 2% each to Rs 642, Rs 1,452 and Rs 1,644, respectively.

ACC and ONGC have gained 1.7% each at Rs 832 and Rs 1,030, respectively.

Maruti has advanced 1.5% to Rs 810. Ambuja Cements and ICICI Bank are up over 1% each at Rs 124 and Rs 1,122, respectively.

Satyam and Bharti Airtel have declined over 1% each to Rs 446 and Rs 840, respectively.

Out of 2,733 stocks traded so far, 1,637 have advanced, 1,023 have declined and 73 are unchanged.