Sensex up 74pts; Hindalco surges 4%

The Sensex is now up 74 points at 19,858.

Reliance Energy has zoomed 5% to Rs 1,880. Hindalco has surged nearly 4% to Rs 201.

ONGC, Ranbaxy and Mahindra & Mahindra have rallied around 3% each to Rs 1,260, Rs 428 and Rs 762, respectively.

NTPC has gained 2.5% at Rs 240, and ICICI Bank has added 2% to Rs 1,265.

Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel and HDFC Bank are the other major gainers at Rs 781, Rs 1,017 and Rs 1,643, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever has plunged nearly 6% to Rs 206.

Maruti and Larsen & Toubro have dropped 2% each to Rs 1,067 and Rs Rs 4,240, respectively.

BHEL has shed 1.6% at Rs 2,612. Infosys, Cipla and TCS have slipped 1.3% each to Rs 1,826, Rs 179 and Rs 1,035, respectively.

Out of 2,802 stocks traded so far, 1,427 have advanced, 1,305 have declined and 70 are unchanged.