Sensex up 659pts; HDFC surges 7%

The Sensex is now up 659 points at 19,694.

HDFC Bank has zoomed 9.7% to Rs 1,731. HDFC has soared 7% to Rs 2,765.

ICICI Bank has rallied over 5% to Rs 1,238. Reliance and ONGC have surged over 4% each to Rs 2,808 and Rs 1,232, respectively.

Infosys has moved up 3.7% to Rs 1,687. Wipro, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, BHEL and TCS have gained around 3% each at Rs 455, Rs 858, Rs 713, Rs 2,857 and Rs 976, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro and Bharti Airtel have advanced 2.7% each to Rs 4,490 and Rs 855, respectively. Satyam has added 2.5% to Rs 421.

Reliance Communications, SBI, Maruti, Hindalco, Reliance Energy, ITC and NTPC are up around 2% each.

Out of 2,797 stocks traded so far, 2,053 have advanced, 677 have declined and 67 are unchanged.