Sensex up 79pts; Cipla soars 5%

The Sensex is now up 79 points at 19,778.

Cipla has zoomed 4.6% to Rs 189, and Bajaj Auto has soared 4.2% to Rs 2,447.

ACC has surged 3.7% to Rs 1,079. Mahindra & Mahindra and ONGC have rallied 2.5% each to Rs 752 and Rs 1,276, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever has advanced 2.2% to Rs 205. Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Hindalco have advanced 2% each to Rs 712, Rs 861 and Rs 208, respectively.

DLF has moved up 1.8% to Rs 954. Grasim, Wipro and Ranbaxy have gained 1.5% each at Rs 3,892, Rs 465 and Rs 418, respectively.

ICICI Bank has slipped 2% to Rs 1,196. ITC and HDFC Bank have shed 1.4% each to Rs 202 and Rs 1,196, respectively.

Out of 2,787 stocks traded so far, 2,226 have advanced, 527 have declined and 34 are unchanged.