Sensex up 148pts; breadth very +ve

The Sensex is now up 148 points at 12,772.

NTPC and BHEL have surged 3.5% each to Rs 160 and Rs 2,331, respectively. HDFC has rallied 3.3% to Rs 1,470.

ICICI Bank has advanced 2.7% to Rs 826. Bharti Airtel, Hindalco and Dr.Reddy's have added over 2% each to Rs 752, Rs 132 and Rs 734, respectively.

SBI, Reliance Energy and Larsen & Toubro are up nearly 2% each at Rs 944, Rs 490 and Rs 1,555, respectively.

Gujarat Ambuja has slipped over 2% to Rs 103. Grasim and ACC have shed 1.7% each to Rs 2,067 and Rs 694, respectively.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 1,977 stocks traded so far, 1,465 have advanced, 463 have declined and 50 are unchanged.