Sensex up 294pts; BHEL, L&T surge

The Sensex is now up 294 points at 18,101.

The NSE Nifty is up 88 points at 5,358.

BHEL and Larsen & Toubro have soared over 4.5% each to Rs 2,282 and Rs 3,676, respectively.

HDFC has surged nearly 4% to Rs 2,675, and Mahindra & Mahindra has rallied nearly 3% to Rs 649.

Tata Steel, Ranbaxy and Hindalco have gained 2.7% each at Rs 831, Rs 431 and Rs 203, respectively.

ICICI Bank has moved up 2.3% to Rs 1,144. ONGC, Reliance Energy and NTPC have advanced 2% each to Rs 1,049, Rs 1,732 and Rs 208, respectively.

Infosys has slipped 1.5% to Rs 1,638, and Bajaj Auto has declined 1% to Rs 2,186.