Markets at day's high

After a rangebound movement, the markets have edged to the day's high on buying in healthcare and auto stocks.

The Sensex has added 42 points to 17,503. BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices have outperformed the broader market. The indices have jumped 0.5% each to 7,160 and 9,156, respectively.

The BSE healthcare index has added 0.8% to 5,753. Auto and bankex are also up.

Mahindra & Mahindra has gained 1.5% at Rs 612. Tata Motors has jumped 1.3% to Rs 777. Cipla has added 1.4% to Rs 342. Sterlite has advanced 1% to Rs 162.

ACC, SBI, Larsen & Toubro and ICICI Bank have moved up in noon trades.

IT stocks - Wipro and Infosys have added 0.7% each.

However, NTPC has slipped 1% to Rs 200.

Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Communications and BHEL have dropped nearly 1% in trdes as well.

The ADAG group firms yesterday's decision for a merger ratio of 4:1, have not gone down well with RNRL investors. The stock has slumped 27% to Rs 46.