Sensex Vaults Over 150 Pts In Early Trade @ 10:12 Hrs

Trading got off to a buoyant start on the major Indian bourses this morning thanks to a firm trend across the globe। Auto, oil, banking and information technology stocks are among the prominent gainers in early trade. Select stocks from power, capital goods, realty and pharma sectors too have posted smart gains.

The Sensex, which shot up to 16,893।78 after opening with a positive gap of over 60 points at 16,781।97, is up with a sharp gain of 138.24 points or 0.83% at 16,859.32 at present. The Nifty, which marched on to 5053.65 after opening at 4999.15, has posted a gain of 0.83% or 41.25 points at 5041.10.

Thanks to a sharp jump in the company's net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, automobile stock Hero Honda rallied smartly to Rs 807.95 in opening trade on NSE today. At present, the Nifty stock is up with a handsome gain of 4.2% at Rs 805.15.

HCL Technologies has gained 3.15% at Rs 262. Idea Cellular, ABB, Power Grid, GAIL India, Unitech, SAIL, Sterlite Industries, Reliance Petroleum and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories are the other major gainers in the Nifty index.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel (up 2.6% at Rs 865.85) is the biggest gainer in the Sensex pack. The Company has posted a net profit of Rs 17923.00 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 as compared to Rs 12868.40 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Total Revenue has increased from Rs 52507.70 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 to Rs 74468.20 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Satyam Computer Services has moved up by 2.25%. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys Technologies, Reliance Communications, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors and State Bank of India have gained 1% - 2%.

Wipro, Reliance Energy, Reliance Industries, Ranbaxy Laboratories, ONGC, NTPC, Mahindra & Mahindra, ITC, Grasim Industries, BHEL and Cipla have also posted sharp gains.

DLF, HDFC, Jaiprakash Associates, Larsen & Toubro, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Steel have gained marginal ground while Hindalco, Hindustan Unilever, ACC and Ambuja Cements are down in the negative territory.