Sensex up 15 pts

After a firm opening and further advancement in early trades, the Sensex has shed some gains due to profit-taking in select old and new economy stocks. The Sensex is now up 15 points at 6,923 as steady buying is seen in select heavyweights, banking, auto and tech stocks. The Nifty, too, is steady at 2,175 - up eight points.

Reliance is trading with a steady gain of Rs 2 at Rs 596, and HLL is up a notch at Rs 144. ITC, however, has edged lower by a per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 1,365.

SBI and ICICI Bank are trading with a per cent gain each at Rs 748 (up Rs 5) and Rs 396 (up Rs 4), respectively. HDFC Bank, however, has lost a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 609.

Wipro has gained 1.25% (Rs 9) to Rs 713, and Satyam is marginally up at Rs 417. Infosys, however, is trading weaker by Rs 2 at Rs 2,230.

Bajaj, Hero Honda and Maruti are up a per cent each at Rs 1,111 (up Rs 11), Rs 561 (up Rs 5) and Rs 465 (up Rs 4), respectively. Tata Motors is up a rupee at Rs 469.

HPCL has added 1.36% (Rs 5) to Rs 344. While Bharti is trading with a gain of nearly 2% (Rs 4) at Rs 227, L&T is up a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 1,096. Tisco has moved up 1.68% (Rs 7) to Rs 438.

ONGC, however, is subdued with a loss of Rs 4 at Rs 927. HDFC is trading lower by 1.15% (Rs 9) at Rs 810.