The Sensex opened 70 points higher at 9,163 on the back of slightly positive cues from the global markets. Fresh buying in morning trades - mainly realty, banking, metal and energy stocks - led the index to a high of 9,327 - up 234 points from the previous day.

The index, however, could not hold gains as weakness in auto stocks soon spread to banking and later on to realty stocks. Negative cues from the European markets, and the US futures further weighed on our markets. As a result of which, the index slipped into red and slumped to a low of 8,803 - down 524 points from the day's high - towards the end of the day.

The BSE Realty index slumped 5.3% to 1,478, and the Auto index tumbled 4.6% to 2,222. The Bankex and Power indices slipped nearly 4% each to 4,466 and 1,570, respectively.

The market breadth turned negative towards the close - out of 2,195 stocks traded, 1,160 declined, 970 advanced and the rest were unchanged today.

INDEX SHAKERS...

DLF slumped 10% to Rs 179. Maruti tumbled 9.5% to Rs 486.

ICICI Bank, Reliance Infrastructure and BHEL plunged around 7% each to Rs 326, Rs 468 and Rs 1,270, respectively.

Ranbaxy shed 5% at Rs 198, and ITC dropped 4.5% to Rs 166.

Wipro slipped nearly 4% to Rs 234. Tata Power, Mahindra & Mahindra and Larsen & Toubro dropped nearly 3.5% each to Rs 646, Rs 272 and Rs 704, respectively.

Hindalco, Bharti Airtel and Satyam were down 3% each to Rs 51, Rs 651 and Rs 236, respectively.

...AND THE MOVERS

Grasim and Tata Steel moved up 1.7% each to Rs 905 and Rs 154, respectively.

TCS was up 1% at Rs 564.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 265 crore followed by SBI (Rs 205 crore), Educomp Solutions (Rs 165.20 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 129.40 crore) and ICICI Bank (Rs 115 crore).

Unitech led the volume chart with trades of around 2.51 crore shares followed by GVK Power (94 lakh), Suzlon (92.55 lakh), Reliance Natural Resources (64 lakh) and ITC (56.20 lakh).

New Ipad Application :Business Standard's all new IPad App Click here to download for free Other Stories      - Markets end higher led by rate sensitives - New rules to seize property of corrupt babus - BSES gets Rs 5,000-cr IDBI Bank loan to pay dues - Reliance MediaWorks Q3 net loss at Rs 151 cr - Investor wealth grows by Rs 10 lakh cr in 2012 rally

Read Business news in  Advertisements -  Now property search gets more exciting than ever before! -  High Growth Business Opportunities in Africa - Register to explore -  We live for our family. have you secured them? -  Financial Learning now made easier and more convenient. -  Earn fuel worth Rs.2400 with Citi -  India's No. 1 Property Site. Click here to know more.. -  Get 5% cashback on telephone bills with Citi -  Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. click to know more.. -  Exim Bank Conclave on India - Africa Project Partnership. Know more.. -  Be part of it The World's Largest Aircraft. -  Creating Wealth made simple the SIP way. Know more.. -  Only Developer to give a guarantee on time space & rate. -  Office 365 for professionals and small businesses. -  Buy Your Property with Our Triple Guarantee in India. -  Improve Patient Care & Experience. Click here to know more -  Win a Business Class Ticket to Europe..Know more.. -   Introduce a New Automotive Luxury Car.. know more -  Health is Wealth..... Insurance + Savings... Know More...