Global cues drag markets down

Markets today slipped on weak global cues. The Sensex opened down 73 points at 17,062. It traded in a lack-lustre fashion for the whole day and slipped to a low of 16,836. The index finally ended near the low at 16,866 - down 268 points (1.5%).

The Nifty ended down 80 points (1.5%) at 5,003. During the day, the NSE index dropped below the 5,000 mark to touch a low of 4,992.

All indices, barring FMCG, ended in the red. FMCG, has however been one of the worst performering sectors since the Budget day. The BSE realty, metal, bankex and auto indices dropped 2-4% each.

INDEX SHAKERS...

Bharti Airtel plunged 8% to Rs 400. Grasim tumbled 7% to Rs 2,509.

Hindalco dropped 6.5% to Rs 118. Reliance Communications shed 5.6% to Rs 300.

DLF, Sterlite, SBI, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Jaiprakash Associates dipped 3-4% each.

The other losers include TCS, Tata Steel, Reliance, ICICI Bank and ACC.

...AND MOVERS

ITC gained 2.5% at Rs 239. Sun Pharma added 2% to Rs 1,429. Reliance Infrastructure was up 1.2% to Rs 1,220.

The market breadth was negative through the day. Out of 2,833 stocks traded 1,991 declined while 779 advanced.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS...

Bharti Airtel topped the combined value chart with a turnover of Rs 1,877.77 crore, followed by SBI (Rs 810.16 crore), Reliance (Rs 789.82 crore), Unitech (Rs 629.51 crore) and ICICI Bank (Rs 602.86 crore).

The combined volume chart was led by Unitech with trades of over 61.57 million shares, followed by Ispat Industries (53.91 million), Bharti Airtel (46 million), Suzlon (33.34 million) and Kingfisher Airlines (28.88 million).