Sensex up 30pts; RIL, ICICI Bank lead rally

 Ranbaxy surged 2.55% (Rs 27) to Rs 1,072. While Dr. Reddy's tumbled nearly 4% (Rs 29) to Rs 718, Cipla lost 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 276.

Gujarat Ambuja clocked a per cent gain (Rs 3) to Rs 423. While ACC was up a rupee at Rs 360, Grasim slipped a per cent (Rs 14) to Rs 1,292.

HDFC shed 2.71% (Rs 21) to Rs 760, and Hindalco dropped 1.60% (Rs 23) to Rs 1,390. L&T lost 1.38% (Rs 14) to Rs 1,036. BHEL and Tisco, however, were up a per cent each at Rs 790 (up Rs 7) and Rs 434 (up Rs 3), respectively.

Metal stocks, too, joined the late rally. Madras Aluminium spurted nearly 7% (Rs 15) to Rs 239. Usha Martin gained nearly 6% (Rs 5) to Rs 102. Bhushan Steel and Sail moved up nearly 5% each to Rs 233 and Rs 68, respectively. Over 1.17 crore Sail shares were traded today. Sun Iron & Steel, Ispat, Man Industries, Uttam Galva and Jindal Steel were up in a range of 1-4%. Over 2.27 crore Ispat shares changed hands on the BSE.

Gammon India moved up nearly 5% (Rs 14) to Rs 300. While Greaves Cotton jumped 2.80% (Rs 4) to Rs 134, Praj Industries was up 1.79% (Rs 7) at Rs 403. Crompton Greaves also ended with gains at Rs 424 - up Rs 6 or 1.39%.

FMCG counters, however, eased on selling pressure. United Breweries tanked 10% (Rs 38) to Rs 342. While Satnam Overseas dropped 4.14% (Rs 4) to Rs 99, Godfrey Philips declined 3.19% (Rs 28) to Rs 845. Nestle lost 2.24% (Rs 15) to Rs 650, and Dabur was down 1.25% at Rs 119.

SBI, with a turnover of Rs 128 crore, led the value chart followed by Reliance (Rs 123 crore), Tisco (Rs 115 crore), and Sail (Rs 77 crore), respectively.