Sensex up 248pts; ICICI Bank, Tata Steel firm

The Sensex is now up 248 points at 18,054.

The NSE Nifty is up 69 points at 5,339.

Mahindra & Mahindra has zoomed 5.7% to Rs 666. BHEL and Larsen & Toubro have soared 4.3% each to Rs 2,275 and Rs 3,670, respectively.

HDFC has surged over 4% to Rs 2,680, and Ranbaxy has gained 3.8% at Rs 435.

ICICI Bank and Tata Steel have advanced around 2.5% each to Rs 1,146 and Rs 828, respectively.

Hindalco and ONGC have moved up around 2% each to Rs 202 and Rs 1,048, respectively.

Maruti and Hindustan Unilever are up nearly 2% each to Rs 828 and Rs 223, respectively.

Grasim has dropped 2.7% to Rs 2,960. Infosys has slipped 1.4% to Rs 1,639, and ITC is down 1% at Rs 199.

Out of 2,716 stocks traded so far, 1,799 have advanced, 845 have declined and 72 are unchagned.