Sensex, Nifty marginally higher; Lupin down 7%, HDFC most active

Equity benchmarks remained firm as the Sensex advanced 94.81 points to 24772.18 and the Nifty rose 35.45 points or 0.47% at 7548. 

Hindalco (3.8 percent), GAIL (3.5 percent), TCS (2.6 percent) and Tata Steel (1.7 percent) are the top gainers in Nifty. Among the losers are Sun Pharma (-2.5 percent), Maruti Suzuki (-1.1 percent), HUL (-0.5 percent) and ITC (-0.5 percent).

 In sectoral performance as reflected by the respective indices, consumer durables (1.6 percent), IT (1.5 percent), metals (1.4 percent) and auto (0.5 percent) gained, while healthcare (-1.8 percent) and FMCG (-0.2 percent) were under pressure.

 Bhushan Steel in News: Lenders of Bhushan Steel are planning to step up pressure to bring down the company's debt. To the extent that banks will overlook the complete operations of Bhushan Steel and monitor its cashflows.

DELTA CASH: BUY MAHINDRACIE ABOVE 185 TG 186.50, 188.50, 191 SL 183,