Markets firm; ICICI, HDFC Bank lead

The Sensex is now up 352 poinst at 15,313.

The NSE Nifty is up 78 points at 4,581.

HDFC Bank has zoomed over 7% to Rs 1,269, and ICICI Bank has surged 5.3% to Rs 730.

Maruti has soared 6.5% to Rs 655. BHEL and Tata Motors have gained 4.5% each at Rs 1,849 and Rs 428, respectively.

ACC and Bharti Airtel have moved up 3.4% each to Rs 637 and Rs 868, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro has advanced 3% to Rs 2,783. Jaiprakash Associates and Mahindra & Mahindra have added 2.6% each to Rs 190 and Rs 562, respectively.

 

HDFC and Reliance have advanced around 2% each to Rs 2,518 and Rs 2,320, respectively.

Tata Power has plunged 4.7% to Rs 1,050. Tata Steel has slipped 1.3% to Rs 667.

The market breadth is fairly positive - out of 2,488 stocks traded so far, 1,576 have advanced, 824 have declined and 88 are unchanged.