Sensex firm, up 140pts; BHEL surges 5%

The Sensex opened 72 points higher at 9,740, and touched a high of 9,834 in early trades. The index is now up 140 points at 9,808.

BHEL has soared 5% to Rs 1,556. ITC has surged 3.5% to Rs 183.

Larsen & Toubro and HDFC have rallied 2.7% each to Rs 641 and Rs 1,640, respectively.

ONGC, Tata Steel and Grasim have gained around 2% each at Rs 780, Rs 199 and Rs 1,582, respectively.

DLF, Tata Motors and HDFC Bank have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 180, Rs 163 and Rs 991, respectively.

ACC, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Power, Infosys and Wipro have advanced 1.3% each.

SBI, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, Maruti and Jaiprakash Associates are also up over 1% each.