Sensex extends gains, up 277pts

The Sensex has extended gains in teh last few minutes and is now up 277 points at 12,150.
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(Updated at 1353 hrs)

The Sensex is moving sideways today and is now up 205 points at 12,078.

Bharti Airtel and Ranbaxy have rallied 4.5% each to Rs 799 and Rs 192, respectively. Jaiprakash Associates and Tata Motors have surged 4% each to Rs 142 and Rs 270, respectively.

ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Reliance Communications have gained 3.5% each.

TCS, Tata Steel, HDFC, SBI, DLF, Tata Power, Sterlite, BHEL, Grasim, ACC, Wipro, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Reliance Infrastructure have added 1-3% each.

However, ONGC has continued to be in the negative zone and is down 2.5% at Rs 810.

The market breadth continues to be positive - out of 2,465 stocks traded, 1,573 have advanced and 800 have declined.