Sensex up 164pts; market breadth strong

The Sensex is now up 164 points at 11,040.

Ranbaxy and HDFC have gained around 4% each at Rs 393 and Rs 1,236, respectively.

HDFC Bank has advanced 3% to Rs 802. Reliance Communications and Bharti Airtel are up over 2% each at Rs 272 and Rs 403, respectively.

Infosys, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto are the other prominent gainers.

The market breadth is still very strong - out of 2,449 stocks traded, 1,648 have advanced, 733 have declined and the rest are unchanged.