Sensex steady; ONGC, ITC advance 2%

The Sensex has rebounded into the positive zone and is now up 65 points at 9,132. Earlier in the day, the index opened 62 points higher at 9,129, and soon touched a high of 9,225. The index, thereafter, had slipped into red to a low of 9,041 - down 184 points from the day's high.

Grasim has surged 4.7% to Rs 1,246, and ACC has rallied 3.7% to Rs 512.

ONGC and ITC have gained 2.3% each at Rs 654 and Rs 182, respectively.

Maruti, BHEL and ICICI Bank have moved up around 2% each to Rs 579, Rs 1,335 and Rs 392, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Reliance have advanced 1.7% each to Rs 626 and Rs 1,299, respectively.

DLF has slumped 9.5% to Rs 139. Tata Motors has tumbled nearly 5% to Rs 136.

Hindaclo has dropped nearly 2% to Rs 45, and Ranbaxy has shed 1.5% at Rs 207.

The market breadth is negative - out of 2,177 stocks traded so far, 1,130 have declined, 940 have advanced and 107 are unchanged.