Sensex up 159pts; Rel Energy zooms 7%

The Sensex is now up 159 points at 16,724.

Reliance Energy has zoomed nearly 7% to Rs 1,078. Maruti and NTPC have soared 3.7% each to Rs 964 and Rs 194, respectively.

BHEL has surged 2.7% to Rs 2,020. Larsen & Toubro, ICICI Bank, Reliance, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications have rallied over 2% each to Rs 2,849, Rs 987, Rs 2,325, Rs 939 and Rs 592, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever has moved up 2% to Rs 223. HDFC Bank and SBI have advanced 1.4% each to Rs 1,341 and Rs 1,833, respectively.

Ranbaxy, Hindalco, Tata Steel and Tata Motors are up 1% each at Rs 410, Rs 162, Rs 748 and Rs 748, respectively.

Infosys has dropped 2.6% to Rs 1,775. Ambuja Cements has slipped over 2% to Rs 144.

ITC and Satyam have shed around 1.5% each to Rs 188 and Rs 413, respectively. TCS is down over 1% to Rs 1,003.

Out of 2,716 stocks traded so far, 1,347 have declined, 1,307 have advanced and 62 are unchanged.