Sensex up 84pts; auto stocks in demand

The Sensex is now up 84 points at 12,465.

Maruti has rallied 3.7% to Rs 977. Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto have advanced over 2% each to Rs 862 and Rs 2,984, respectively.

Tata Steel has surged 3.4% to Rs 536. Reliance Communications has moved up 2.3% to Rs 348, and NTPC has added 2% to Rs 130.

Grasim, Ranbaxy and ITC are up around 1.7% each at Rs 2,518, Rs 438 and Rs 187, respectively.

Reliance Energy, Gujarat Ambuja, HDFC, ACC, Dr.Reddy's and Wipro are the other smart gainers.

Hero Honda has slipped 1.5% to Rs 778.

Out of 2,542 stocks traded so far, 1,618 have advanced, 861 have declined and the rest are unchanged.