Markets volatile; Hind Unilever sheds 5%

The NSE Nifty is down 42 points at 4,225.

Hindustan Unilever has slumped 5% to Rs 215. Reliance Communications has tumbled over 4% to Rs 468.

Larsen & Toubro, Hindalco and ITC have shed 3.3% each at Rs 2,317, Rs 144 and Rs 189, respectively.

ONGC, Tata Steel and HDFC Bank have also dropped over 3% each to Rs 859, Rs 723 and Rs 1,067, respectively.

BHEL and Reliance have gained 2% each at Rs 1,388 and Rs 2,064, respectively.

HDFC has advanced 1.5% to Rs 2,246. Ranbaxy and Jaiprakash Associates are up over 1% each at Rs 519 and Rs 155, respectively.

The market breadth is negative - out of 2,671 stocks traded so far, 1,857 have declined, 750 have advanced and 64 are unchanged.