Sensex up 44pts; Bajaj Auto slips 2%

The Sensex is now up 44 points at 14,475.

ACC has zoomed 8.5% to Rs 901. Ambuja Cements has soared 6% to Rs 124, and Grasim has surged 4.5% to Rs 2,615.

HDFC has rallied 3% to Rs 1,921. Ranbaxy has moved up 1.4% to Rs 348.

SBI and Reliance Energy are the other notable gainers. Hindalco has plunged 3% to Rs 165. Bajaj Auto has shed 1.7% to Rs 2,094.

Maruti has slipped 1.3% to Rs 742, and Hindustan Unilever is down nearly 1% at Rs 189.

Out of 2,541 stocks traded so far, 1,527 have advanced, 936 have declined and 78 are unchanged.