Sensex up 169pts; market breadth firm

The Sensex is now up 169 points at 11,482.

Hero Honda and HDFC Bank have rallied 4% each to Rs 709 and Rs 838, respectively.

Ranbaxy has gained 3% at Rs 404. Dr.Reddy's has surged 2.5% to Rs 1,475.

Hindalco, BHEL, Wipro and Tata Motors have advanced over 2% each to Rs 170, Rs 2,225, Rs 522 and Rs 817, respectively.

Satyam, SBI, ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Maruti, HLL, ONGC, ITC and Tata Steel are the other prominent gainers.

The market breadth is very firm. Out of 2,471 stocks traded so far, 1,853 have advanced, 558 have declined and 60 are unchanged.