Sensex up 23pts; Dr.Reddy's, Bharti gain 2%

The Sensex is now up 23 points at 19,809.

ITC has zoomed 6.5% to Rs 202. Grasim has soared nearly 4% to Rs 3,757.

Dr.Reddy's, ACC and Bharti Airtel have gained 1.7% each at Rs 610, Rs 1,062 and Rs 915, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti have advanced 1.3% each to Rs 729 and Rs 1,049, respectively.

Reliance and Hindustan Unilever are up 1% each at Rs 2,902 and Rs 202, respectively.

Ranbaxy has shed 2.5% at Rs 413. Tata Steel has dropped 1.7% to Rs 846.

Infosys, Larsen & Toubro and Satyam have slipped 1.3% each to Rs 1,630, Rs 4,444 and Rs 423, respectively.

Out of 2,773 stocks traded so far, 2,057 have advanced, 670 have declined and 46 are unchanged.