Sensex up 24pts; breadth firm

The Sensex is now up 24 points at 19,627.

Mahindra & Mahindra has rallied 2.5% to Rs 770. Tata Steel has surged 2% to Rs 856.

BHEL and Ambuja Cements have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 2,807 and Rs 155, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro and DLF have gained 1.3% each at Rs 4,235 and Rs 959, respectively.

Infosys and Reliance Energy are up over 1% each at Rs 1,618 and Rs 1,920, respectively.

ICICI Bank has shed 1.7% at Rs 1,145.

TCS has slipped 1.4% to Rs 1,038, and Reliance is down over 1% at Rs 2,900.

Out of 2,796 stocks traded so far, 1,966 have advanced, 777 have declined and 53 are unchanged.