Sensex up 98 pts, ITC slips

The Sensex is ruling firm above the 6,250-mark in early noon trades as the overall market-mood remains optimistic. The gains of the index has inched below 100 points following the emergence of profit-taking in select counters.

While the Sensex is now up 98 points at 6,255, the Nifty, too, has trimmed its gains to 1,954 - up 26 points.

ONGC has gained 2.13% (Rs 18) to Rs 849. Reliance has shed some gains on profit-taking to Rs 524 - up Rs 6 or 1.19%.

HLL is up a rupee at Rs 131. ITC, however, has slipped into the red to Rs 1,372 - down Rs 7.

Infosys is up 2.51% (Rs 48) at Rs 1,960. Wipro and Satyam are up a per cent each at Rs 601 (up Rs 5) and Rs 389 (up Rs 3), respectively.

SBI is up 1.39% (Rs 9) at Rs 629. HDFC Bank has moved up 2.49% (Rs 13) to Rs 534, and ICICI Bank is steady at Rs 395 - up Rs 8 or 1.96%.

Bharti continues to trade on a firm note and has gained 3.56% (Rs 7) to Rs 211. While HDFC has shot up 3.57% (Rs 25) to Rs 714, L&T is up 2.54% (Rs 24) at Rs 988. Tata Power has advanced 3.36% (Rs 11) to Rs 343, and Tisco is up 2% (Rs 7) at Rs 361.

Cipla has added 2.59% (Rs 6) to Rs 238, While Dr. Reddy's is trading off-highs with a per cent gain (Rs 5) at Rs 691. Ranbaxy is up 1.23% (Rs 11) at Rs 950.

Bajaj is subdued at Rs 1,066 - down Rs 5. Other auto scrips, however, are trading with steady gains.