Sensex advances 180pts; tech stocks still weak

The Sensex has rallied to higher levels on the back of a fresh bout of buying. The index is now up 180 points at 10,518.

DLF, Tata Power and Ranbaxy have zoomed around 9.5% each to Rs 277, Rs 758 and Rs 208, respectively.

ONGC has soared 7.5% to Rs 765. Tata Steel and Jaiprakash Associates have surged over 7% each to Rs 242 and Rs 87, respectively.

ITC and SBI have rallied around 6.5% each to Rs 169 and Rs 1,319, respectively.

Reliance Communications and and ICICI Bank have gained 6% each at Rs 247 and Rs 457, respectively.

BHEL has advanced 4% to Rs 1,395.

TCS has slumped 8.5% to Rs 502. Satyam has tumbled nearly 8% to Rs 277, and Wipro has plunged 7% to Rs 257. Infosys has shed 5% to Rs 1,310.

Sterlite has dropped nearly 4% to Rs 284. ACC has slipped over 2% to Rs 501.

The market breadth is positive - out of 2,598 stocks traded so far, 1,664 have advanced, 856 have declined and 78 are unchanged.