Sensex near day's high; NTPC up 3%

The Sensex has soared to a high of 17,513 and is now at 17,501, up 157 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,214, up 44 points

Among the Sensex 30 pack, NTPC and Jaiprakash Associates have soared around 3% each to Rs 239 and Rs 146, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance and Larsen & Toubro have added 1.5% each at Rs 1,083, Rs 1,092 and Rs 1,686, respectively.

The other prominent movers on the Sensex are Reliance Communications, Sterlite, ITC, ACC, Hindalco and Grasim, up 1% each.

All the sectoral indices are in green, the oil & gas and the power indices are in green, up 1% at each 10,498 and 3,187, respectively.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,582 shares traded, 1,877 have advanced and 625 have declined so far on the BSE.