Sensex up 256pts; breadth extremely +ve

The Sensex is now up 256 points at 14,266.

HDFC Bank has advanced 4.5% to Rs 1,062. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Tata Motors have surged nearly 4% each to Rs 1,675 and Rs 883, respectively.

ICICI Bank, Gujarat Ambuja and Maruti have advanced around 3% each to Rs 945, Rs 135 and Rs 883, respectively.

Reliance Communications has flared up 2.6% to Rs 463.

Bharti Aritel, HLL, BHEL, TCS, Cipla, Hero Honda and Wipro are up over 2% each.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 2,048 stocks traded so far, 1,742 have moved up, 287 have declined and the rest are unchanged.