Sensex up 168pts; ITC soars 4%

The Sensex is now up 168 points at 15,429.

ITC has soared 3.8% to Rs 174. BHEL has surged 3% to Rs 1,694.

Reliance Energy has zoomed 2.5% to Rs 800. Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto and Reliance Communications have gained 2.3% each at Rs 2,503, Rs 2,345 and Rs 553, respectively.

ACC, NTPC and SBI have rallied around 2% each to Rs 1,043, Rs 166 and Rs 1,608, respectively.

Ranbaxy and HDFC have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 383 and Rs 1,940, respectively.

Satyam, HDFC Bank, Ambuja Cements and ICICI Bank have advanced around 1.5% each to Rs 486, Rs 1,177, Rs 131 and Rs 937, respectively.

Reliance and Hindalco are up over 1% each at Rs 1,870 and Rs 168, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra has shed 1.8% to Rs 739.