Sensex up 156pts; HDFC, Infosys firm

The Sensex is now up 156 points at 15,783.

The NSE Nifty is up 18 points at 4,758.

HDFC has zoomed 4.7% to Rs 2,470, and Infosys has soared over 4% to Rs 1,481.

Jaiprakash (JP) Associates has surged 3.8% to Rs 234, and ICICI Bank has rallied 3.5% to Rs 783.

Bharti Airtel and Satyam have advanced around 2.5% each to Rs 825 and Rs 407, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Wipro have gained over 2% each at Rs 665, Rs 1,336 and Rs 418, respectively.

Reliance Energy have plunged nearly 4% to Rs 1,238, and Tata Steel has dropped over 3% to Rs 646.

ITC and BHEL have slipped around 2% each to Rs 207 and Rs 1,851, respectively.

DLF has shed 1.5% at Rs 618. Hindustan Unilever is down over 1% at Rs 236.

Out of 2,697 stocks traded so far, 1,837 have advanced, 809 have declined and 51 are unchanged.