Sensex up 285pts; breadth fairly +ve

The Sensex is now up 285 points at 19,001.

Reliance Communications has zoomed 6% to Rs 781. Tata Steel has soared 3.5% to Rs 899.

Hindalco, Ranbaxy, Reliance and NTPC have surged around 3% each to Rs 205, Rs 434, Rs 2,778 and Rs 227, respectively.

Reliance Energy has rallied 2.8% to Rs 1,812. Cipla, BHEL, Dr.Reddy's and Larsen & Toubro have gained over 2% each to Rs 184, Rs 2,332, Rs 619 and Rs 3,356, respectively.

ONGC and Maruti have moved up 1.5% each to Rs 1,148 and Rs 1,192, respectively.

Grasim, ITC, Mahindra & Mahindra, ACC and Satyam are up over 1% each.

ICICI Bank has plunged 3% to Rs 1,084. Bharti Airtel has slipped over 2% to Rs 1,080.

HDFC Bank has declined 1.5% to Rs 1,438, and TCS is down 1% at Rs 1,085.

The market breadth is fairly positive - out of 2,484 stocks traded so far, 1,918 have advanced, 510 have declined and 56 are unchanged.