Sensex up 12pts; SBI, HDFC Bank firm

The Sensex is now up 12 points at 20,824.

SBI and HDFC Bank have soared 2.7% each to Rs 2,470 and Rs 1,702, respectively.

Satyam and Mahindra & Mahindra have surged 2.4% each to Rs 423 and Rs 830, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications have rallied over 2% each to Rs 958 and Rs 807, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro has moved up 1.8% to Rs 4,353. Reliance has advanced 1.4% to Rs 3,058.

Infosys and TCS are up over 1% each at Rs 1,659 and Rs 987, respectively.

Grasim has plunged 4.5% to Rs 3,360. Hindalco and Tata Steel have tumbled 3.3% each to Rs 210 and Rs 895, respectively.

ICICI Bank has slipped over 2% to Rs 1,335. ACC has shed 1.5% at Rs 987.

Cipla and NTPC are down over 1% each at Rs 209 and Rs 266, respectively.

Out of 2,909 stocks traded so far, 2,297 have advanced, 591 have declined and 21 are unchanged.