Sensex up 181pts; Bharti, RCom shine

The Sensex has pared some gains and is now up 181 points at 20,994.

HDFC Bank has surged 2.5% to Rs 1,698. Reliance Communications has soared 2.3% to Rs 808.

Bharti Airtel and Mahindra & Mahindra have rallied over 2% each to Rs 957 and Rs 828, respectively.

Satyam, ONGC and HDFC have advanced 1.8% each to Rs 421, Rs 1,323 and Rs 3,166, respectively.

ITC has gained 1.5% at Rs 235, and Hindustan Unilever has added 1.3% to Rs 240.

SBI, TCS and Tata Steel are up over 1% each at Rs 2,431, Rs 987 and Rs 935, respectively.