Sensex up 52pts; Pharma stocks in demand

The Sensex is now up 52 points at 11,138.

Ranbaxy has gained 3.7% ato Rs 413.

Infosys, Wipro and Satyam are up 2% each at Rs 3,017, Rs 540 and Rs 836, respectively.

Hindalco has rallied 2% to Rs 177.

ITC, BHEL, Cipla and Reliance Energy are up over 1% each.

Out of 2,283 stocks traded so far, 1,533 have advanced, 792 have declined and 59 are unchanged.

Pharma stocks are witnessing heavy buying. The BSE Healthcare Index has surged 1.7% to 3764. Leading the way up is Pfizer with a gain of 6.6% at Rs 1,095. Aurobindo Pharma, Aventis Pharma, Biocon, GSK Pharma, Matrix, Sun Pharma and Unichem are up 2-3% each.

SPL has hit the 20% upper limit at Rs 70.20. ETC Network, K M Sugar Mill, Mawana Sugar, Repro India, Noida Toll, DCM Shriram Consolidated, Ashapura Minechem, Rajshree Sugar, Advik Labs, HCL Infosys and Federal Bank are the other major gainers.

State Bank of Mysore has dropped 8% to Rs 7,110. Titanor, SAIL, J K Cement, Nirma, Jayant Agro, Himachal Futuristic, Mahindra Gesco, Reliance Natural Resources and IndusInd Bank are the other major losers.