Sensex up 297pts; breadth extremely +ve

The Sensex is now up 297 points at 18,716.

Reliance Energy has zoomed over 6% to Rs 1,737, and ONGC has soared 4.8% to Rs 1,143.

Hindalco has surged 3.7% to Rs 185, and Tata Steel has added 3.4% to Rs 877.

NTPC has has rallied over 3% to Rs 224. Reliance Communications has gained 2.6% at Rs 737.

Reliance and HDFC Bank have moved up 2.3% each to Rs 2,627 and Rs 1,465, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, ACC and Maruti have advanced around 2% each to Rs 845, Rs 1,277 and Rs 1,118, respectively.

ICICI Bank, Cipla, Tata Motors, BHEL and Bharti Airtel are the other major gainers.

Hindustan Unilever has slipped over 1% to Rs 219.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 2,500 stocks traded so far, 1,841 have advanced, 610 have declined and 49 are unchanged.