Sensex up 323pts; Hindalco zooms 7%

The Sensex is now up 323 points at 18,090.

The NSE Nifty is up 102 points at 5,305.

Hindalco has zoomed nearly 7% to Rs 175. Tata Steel and Ranbaxy have soared 4.5% each to Rs 813 and Rs 397, respectively.

Bajaj Auto has rallied 3.6% to Rs 2,151. Hindustan Unilever and SBI have surged 3.3% each to Rs 210 and Rs 2,276, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance and DLF have gained around 2.5% each at Rs 615, Rs 2,578 and Rs 885, respectively.

BHEL has moved up 2% to Rs 2,276.

Maruti has slipped 2% to Rs 814. Grasim, Reliance Energy and Satyam are down over 1% each at Rs 2,810, Rs 1,688 and Rs 433, respectively.

Out of 2,757 stocks traded so far, 1,857 have advanced, 848 have declined and 52 are unchanged.