Sensex ends up 232pts

The Sensex has finally ended (provisional) at 17,397 - up 232 points. Nifty ended at 5202, up 73 points (provisional).

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(Updated at 1442pm)

The Sensex is now quoting at 17,283, up 118 points  and the Nifty is at 5,174, up 45 points.

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(Updated at 1342pm)

The markets have gained in strength in afternoon trades. The Sensex is now quoting at 17,217, up 51 points,  and the Nifty is at 5,149, up 20 points. The mid-cap and small-cap indices are also up by more than half a per cent each.

Reliance Industries remains the top gainer on the Sensex. The index bellweather is trading strong at Rs 1053, up 2.4%. Tata Power has strengthened by 1.6% at Rs 1375 and L&T has added 1.5% to Rs 1,578. Tata Motors, Sun Pharma and Tata Steel are the other significant gainers.

On the other hand, ACC has dropped 1.8% at Rs 963, ITC has shed 1.7% at Rs 255 and Bharti Airtel has lost 1.6% at Rs 294.

The BSE market breadth continues to be positive. Out of 2,810 stocks traded, 1,573 have advanced while 1,160 have declined.