Sensex down 136pts

The Sensex has recovered marginally and is now at 11,994, down 136 points. The index had dropped to a low of 11,899.

The market breadth has turned negative- out of 2,573 stocks traded, 1,338 stocks have declined and 1,142 have advanced.

Updated at 1442 hrs:

The Sensex has tumbled from the day's high of 12,272 on the back of heavy profit taking at higher levels. The index has slipped below the 12,000- mark and is now down 138 points at 11,993.

HDFC has tumbled over 5% to Rs 1,764. ICICI Bank and Tata Steel have slumped 4% each to Rs 546 and Rs 275, respectively.

DLF and ITC have slipped over 3% each to Rs 252 and Rs 191, respectively.

TCS, Mahindra& Mahindra and Jaiprakash Associates have dropped over 2.5% each to Rs 632, Rs 519 and Rs 144, respectively.

Reliance Infrastructures and Hindalco have gained 3% each to Rs 818 and Rs 64, respectively. ONGC has added over 2.5% to Rs 910.