Sensex up 227pts; SBI advances 2%

The Sensex is now up 227 points at 19,166.

HDFC Bank has zoomed nearly 4% to Rs 1,670, and ICICI Bank has soared 3.5% to Rs 1,166.

Maruti has surged 3.4% to Rs 1,000. Wipro has rallied 2.4% to Rs 461.

SBI has advanced nearly 2% to Rs 2,295. DLF, HDFC and TCS have gained 1.5% each at Rs 893, Rs 2,750 and Rs 990, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance and ITC are the other major gainers.

Out of 2,823 stocks traded so far, 1,431 have advanced, 1,331 have declined and 61 are unchanged.