Sensex up 27pts; bank stocks firm

The Sensex is now up 27 points 13,956.

SBI has soared over 3% to Rs 1,266. HDFC Bank has advanced over 2% to Rs 1,033, and ICICI Bank has added 1.3% to Rs 899.

BHEL has surged 2.5% to Rs 2,580. Reliance Communications has rallied nearly 2% to Rs 484.

Hindalco has gained 1.6% at Rs 148. HLL and Dr.Reddy's are up over 1% each at Rs 196 and Rs 665, respectively.

Hero Honda has tumbled over 3% to Rs 676. Maruti has shed 1.4% at Rs 795.

TCS has slipped nearly 2% to Rs 1,213. Infosys has dropped 1.6% to Rs 1,942, and Satyam has declined 1.3% to Rs 446.

Gujarat Ambuja and Tata Steel are down over 1% each at Rs 122 and Rs 586, respectively.

Out of 2,571 stocks traded so far, 1,488 have advanced, 989 have declined and 94 are unchanged.