Sensex flat in early trades

The Sensex after touching a high of 17,213 is now flat at 17,196, up 31 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,138, up nine points.

Among the Sensex-30 stocks, Sun Pharma, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Motors, Reliance and Hindustan Unilver have advanced 1% each to Rs 1,635, Rs 1,566, Rs 775, Rs 1036 and Rs 227, respectively.

Bharti Airtel on the other hand has slipped 1% to Rs 296. The other major losers were HDFC Bank, ACC, ICICI Bank and Infosys, down 0.5% each.