Sensex extends gains; metal index up 3%

The Sensex has extended gains and is now at 16,391, up 227 points. The NSE Nifty is at 4,896, up 66 points.

Among the 30-stocks pack, Sterlite and Tata Steel have advanced 3% each to Rs 761 and Rs 588, respectively. Hindalco has added 2.5% to Rs 155.

Tata Power, Larsen & Toubro, HDFC, DLF  and Jaiprakash Associates have increased 1.5% each to Rs 1,313, Rs 1,422, Rs 2,461 and Rs 138, respectively.

NTPC, Infosys, Grasim, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank and ONGC have added 1% each.

Maruti and Sun Pharmaceuticals have slipped 0.5% each to Rs 1,365 and Rs 1,510, respectively.

The BSE metal index has advanced 2.5% to 16,352. It is followed by caoital goods, realty, consumer durables, power and IT indices, up over 1% each.

The BSE midcap and the small cap indices are firm, up around 1.5% each.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,262 shares traded, 1,669 have advanced and 544 have declined so far on the BSE.