Sensex up 87pts; NTPC soars 4%

The Sensex is now up 87 points at 15,405.

Dr.Reddy's has soared 4% to Rs 666. Cipla has surged nearly 3%  Rs 172.

NTPC has surged 3.7% to Rs 180, and ICICI Bank has rallied 2.5% to Rs 907.

Maruti and Ranbaxy have advanced around 2% each to Rs 887 and Rs 399, respectively.

HDFC Bank and Hindalco have moved up 1.3% each to Rs 1,187 and Rs 160, respectively.

ITC, BHEL, Larsen & Toubro, ACC, SBI and Tata Steel are up over 1% each.

ONGC has slipped 1.6% to Rs 844. Bharti Airtel is down 1% at Rs 872.

Out of 2,605 stocks traded so far, 1,896 have advanced, 664 have declined and 45 are unchanged.