Sensex up 855pts; Ranbaxy, HDFC Bk soar 7%

The Sensex is now up 855 points at 18,076.

Reliance Energy, ICICI Bank and ONGC have zoomed around 9.5% each to Rs 1,989, Rs 1,240 and Rs 1,032, respectively.

Ranbaxy has soared 7% to Rs 371, and HDFC Bank has surged 6.7% to Rs 1,609.

Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors have rallied over 6% each to Rs 665 and Rs 703, respectively.

BHEL and Tata Steel have gained 5.7% each at Rs 2,216 and Rs 709, respectively.

NTPC has moved up 4.8% to Rs 214. Grasim, DLF and ITC have advanced 4.5% each to Rs 3,025, Rs 931 and Rs 197, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel and Cipla are up 4% each at Rs 3,680, Rs 2,193, Rs 886 and Rs 182,  respectively.

The market breadth is negative - out of 2,598 stocks traded so far, 1,359 have declined, 1,205 have advanced and 34 are unchanged.