Sensex up 207pts; ICICI Bank gains 3%

The Sensex is now up 207 points at 17,974.

The NSE Nifty is up 65 points at 5,267.

Hindalco has soared 4.5% to Rs 171. Bajaj Auto has surged 3.3% to Rs 2,145.

BHEL and ICICI Bank have rallied 2.7% each to Rs 2,292 and Rs 1,192, respectively.

Ranbaxy and Hindustan Unilever have gained 2.3% each at Rs 389 and Rs 208, respectively.

Reliance, Tata Steel, Cipla and HDFC have advanced 2% each to Rs 2,566, Rs 794, Rs 184 and Rs 2,918, respectively.

ONGC and NTPC have moved up over 1.5% each to Rs 1,042 and Rs 204, respectively.

ITC, Larsen & Toubro, SBI and TCS are up 1% each at Rs 202, Rs 3,543, Rs 2,227 and Rs 882, respectively.

Maruti has slipped 1.6% to Rs 817, and Satyam has shed 1.4% at Rs 432.

DLF, Grasim and Reliance Energy are down 1% each at Rs 855, Rs 2,814 and Rs 1,692, respectively.

Out of 2,685 stocks traded so far, 1,697 have advanced, 924 have declined and 64 are unchanged.