Sensex up 696pts; ONGC, L&T up 6%

The Sensex is now up 696 points to 17,645.

The NSE Nifty has gained 224 points to 5,154.

BHEL has zoomed nearly 11% to Rs 2,196. Reliance Energy and Hindalco have soared around 9% each to Rs 1,704 and Rs 163,
respectively.

Reliance Communications has rallied 7.5% to Rs 600. DLF has surged 6.5% to Rs 867.

ONGC and Larsen & Toubro have gained around 6% each to Rs 1,001 and Rs 3,468, respectively.

ICICI Bank has advanced 5.4% to Rs 1,159, and Reliance has added 5% to Rs 2,505.

HDFC Bank and NTPC are up 4.5% each at Rs 1,534 and Rs 196, respectively.

Out of 2,716 stocks traded so far, 1,833 have advanced, 836 have declined and 47 are unchanged.