Sensex up 161pts, SBI, HLL hold gains

The Sensex has shed some ground on profit-taking, but is still up 161 points at 13,957.

SBI is now up 4.5% at Rs 1,200.

HLL is still up 3.5% at Rs 192. Reliance is now up 1.5% at Rs 1,613.

Cipla, Gujarat Ambuja, Tata Steel and ICICI Bank are holding gains of 2% each.

Bank and petroluem stocks continue to hold gains at higher levels.

Breadth continues to be bulliish - out of 2,520 scrips traded till now, 1,645 have logged gains.