Firm trend continues... Sensex up 200pts

The Sensex continues to display strength, and is now up 197 points at 9,061. This index had opened with a positive gap of 92 points at 8,956 tshi morning.

The BSE Realty index has soared over 6% to 1,561. The Metal index has rallied 4.5% to 5,200, and the Capital Goods index has surged 3.5% to 6,105.

Jaiprakash Associates has zoomed over 9% to Rs 81. DLF and Sterlite have soared over 6% each to Rs 169 and Rs 311, respectively.

Reliance Infrastructure has surged nearly 6% to Rs 491. Hindalco has rallied over 5% to Rs 46.

Tata Steel and Reliance Communications have gained around 4.5% each at Rs 176 and Rs 165, respectively.

BHEL and Reliance have moved up 4% each to Rs 1,455 and Rs 1,352, respectively.

Wipro, ICICI Bank and Tata Motors have advanced around 3.5% each to Rs 236, Rs 336 and Rs 178, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro and HDFC Bank are up over 3% each at Rs 637 and Rs 851, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, however, has shed 2.3% at Rs 369, and Hindustan Unilever has slipped 1% to Rs 232.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 2,379 stocks traded so far, 1,593 have advanced, 700 have declined and the rest are unchanged.