Sensex up 225pts; HDFC moves up 3%

The Sensex is now up 225 points at 18,031.

The NSE Nifty is up 59 points at 5,329.

Mahindra & Mahindra has zoomed 6.5% to Rs 671. Larsen & Toubro has soared 4% to Rs 3,658.

BHEL and Ranbaxy have surged 3.7% each to Rs 2,263 and Rs 435, respectively. HDFC has rallied 3.3% to Rs 2,660.

ICICI Bank has advanced 2.3% to Rs 1,144. Tata Steel, Hindalco and ONGC have added 2% each to Rs 826, Rs 201 and Rs 1,048, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever has moved up 1.7% to Rs 223. NTPC and Reliance have gained 1.3% each at Rs 207 and Rs 2,609, respectively.

Grasim has shed 2.3% at Rs 2,974. Infosys has slipped 1.5% to Rs 1,636, and Bajaj Auto has declined over 1% to Rs 2,183.

The market breadth is fairly positive - out of 2,701 stocks traded so far, 1,800 have advanced, 833 have declined and 68 are unchagned.