Sensex up 42pts; NTPC slips 2%

The Sensex is now up 42 points at 12,829.

Tata Steel has soared 5.5% to Rs 462. Reliance Energy has surged 2% to Rs 497.

HLL has rallied 1.7% at Rs 201, and Hindalco has moved up 1.5% to Rs 133.

ACC, Gujarat Ambuja, HDFC, Tata Motors and Grasim are up over 1% each to Rs 723, Rs 106, Rs 1,514, Rs 689 and Rs 2,085, respectively.

NTPC has shed nearly 2% to Rs 158. Hero Honda has dropped 1.5% to Rs 634, and Dr.Reddy's is down 1% at Rs 738.

Out of 2,369 stocks traded so far, 1,454 have advanced, 842 have declined and 73 are unchanged.