Markets trade lower, RIL slips

Markets extended losses in the last leg of the trade due to selling pressure in heavyweights-Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. The Nifty index declined 27 points, at 5,538 and the Sensex was down 59 points, at 18439.

-------------------------------Updated at 13:38 pm

The markets continue to trade in the negative in the afternoon trades with the Sensex down 23 points at 18,478 while the Nifty lost 17 points at 5,550. Earlier in the day, the markets started in the negative but erased its losses in the morning deals. However, the fall in Realty and Consumer Durables dragged the markets lower in the later half of the day.

In the broader markets, the smallcap index fell 0.3% and the midcap index lost 0.4% underperfroming the Sensex which is down nearly 0.2%.

Among the top gainers on the Sensex are Tata Motors up nearly 1%, Wipro and Hindustan Unilever gaining 0.6% each. ONGC, ITC and Infosys up 0.4% each are the other notable gainers.

Reliance Communications down 2% continues to be the top loser followed by Hindalco, HDFC Bank, NTPC, Reliance industries and DLF down 1% each are the top losers.

The market is negative.Of the total 2835 stocks listed on the BSE, 1548 stocks declined while 1158 advanced.