Sensex up 169pts; ONGC, HDFC Bank up 3%

The Sensex is now up 169 points at 17,819.

The NSE Nifty is up 54 points at 5,254.

Reliance Energy and HDFC Bank have surged over 3% each to Rs 1,675 and Rs 1,467, respectively. ONGC has soared nearly 3% to Rs 1,042.

ACC, Ambuja Cements and Grasim have rallied around 2% each to Rs 836, Rs 125 and Rs 2,950, respectively.

ICICI Bank, Infosys and Reliance Communications have advanced over 1.5% each to Rs 1,128, Rs 1,639 and Rs 601, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Wipro have slipped over 1% each to Rs 840 and Rs 435, respectively.