Sensex up 60pts; Bank, oil scrips lead

The Sensex is ruling firm close to the day's high with a gain of 60 points at 10,342. The BSE Bankex and Oil & Gas indices have advanced over 1% each to 5210 and 4525, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro has rallied 2.3% to Rs 2,417. Tata Power and ICICI Bank has surged 2% each to Rs 530 and Rs 606, respectivey.

ACC and Grasim has gained 1.6% each at Rs 606 and Rs 1,695, respectively.

HLL, Reliance, Reliance Energy, Infosys and Maruti are the other smart gainers among the Sensex stocks.

Ranbaxy has declined 1.4% to Rs 436. Hindalco has shed 1% to Rs 153.

The market breadth is fairly positive. Out of 1,980 stocks traded so far, 1,190 have moved up, 713 have slipped and the rest are unchanged.

Canara Bank leads the upmove in banking stocks with a gain of 3.7% at Rs 287. Centurion Bank of Punjab and Union Bank are the other smart gainers.

Among oil & gas stocks - BPCL, HPCL, Chennai Petro, Essar Oil, Gail India, IOC and MRPL have gained 1-2% each.