Markets steady at higher levels

The Sensex is now at 17,068, up 142 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,083, up 50 points.
___________________________________________

(Updated at 1130hrs)

The Sensex has touched a high of 17,090.63 and is now exhibiting firmness  by hovering around its highest point at 17,080, up 150 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,085, up 53 points.

All the sectoral indices are in green , with the realty and healthcare indices leading the upmove, up 3% and 2%, respectively.

Sun Pharma has topped the gainers list on the BSE, up 3.5% at Rs 1,508. Sterlite and DLF have advanced 2.5% each at Rs 880 and Rs 360, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel and Maruti have advanced over 2% each at Rs 1,052, Rs 676, Rs 306 and Rs 1,595, respectively.

The other major gainers include Reliance Communications, ACC, Hindalco, Tata Stell and Reliance are up over 1.5% each.

Infosys and Hindustan Unilever are down below 1% at Rs 2,363 and Rs 283, respectively.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,357 shares traded, 1,700 have advanced and 587 have declined so far on the BSE.