Sensex up 144pts; Bharti, ICICI up 2%

The Sensex is now up 144 points at 12,769.

BHEL has soared 5% to Rs 2,371. HDFC has advanced 3.5% to Rs 1,474.

NTPC and Dr.Reddy's have surged around 3% each to Rs 158 and Rs 741,  respectively.

ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel have moved up around 2% each to Rs 822 and Rs 749, respectively. Cipla and Larsen & Toubro have added 1.7% each to Rs 228 and Rs 1,554, respectively.

HDFC Bank and Reliance are up 1.4% each at Rs 926 and Rs 1,360, respectively.

Hero Honda and Grasim have dropped 1.7% each to Rs 648 and Rs 2,069, respectivey. Satyam has slipped 1% to Rs 454.

Out of 2,369 stocks traded so far, 1,560 have advanced, 734 have declined and 75 are unchanged.