Sensex up 160pts; cement stocks surge

The Sensex is now up 160 points at 15,096.

ACC has soared 4.4% to Rs 1,008. Ambuja Cements have surged 3.8% to Rs 134, and Grasim has gained almost 3% at Rs 2,930.

Reliance Communications has rallied 3% to Rs 547. Reliance Energy has moved up 2.7% to Rs 757.

Dr.Reddy's and SBI have advanced 2.3% each to Rs 637 and Rs 1,584, respectively.

Maruti and Ranbaxy have gained 2.2% each at Rs 839 and Rs 376, respectively.

Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance and BHEL have moved upnearly 2% each to Rs 634, Rs 2,532, Rs 1,832 and Rs 1,693, respectively.

Tata Motors has shed 1.8% to Rs 655. HDFC Bank has slipped 1% to Rs 1,150.

Out of 2,334 stocks traded so far, 1,563 have advanced, 707 have declined and 64 are unchanged.