Sensex up 159pts; HDFC Bank zooms 6%

The Sensex is now up 159 points at 18,896.

HDFC Bank has zoomed 5.5% to Rs 1,556. HDFC has soared over 3% to Rs 2,593.

Larsen & Toubro and NTPC have surged 3% each to Rs 4,290 and Rs 261, respectively.

Reliance Communications has rallied 2% to Rs 709. Reliance and Reliance Energy have moved up 1.3% each to Rs 2,712 and Rs 1,842, respectively.

Tata Steel and SBI are up 1% each at Rs 824 and Rs 2,259, respectively.

Wipro has dropped 3% to Rs 444. ITC and Mahindra & Mahindra have slipped 2% each to Rs 174 and Rs 714, respectively.

TCS, Hindalco and Infosys have shed 1.3% each to Rs 950, Rs 204 and Rs 1,621, respectively.

Ambuja Cements and ICICI Bank are down 1% each at Rs 146 and Rs 1,136, respectively.

Out of 2,653 stocks traded so far, 1,848 have advanced, 742 have declined and 63 are unchanged.