Sensex down 147pts; HDFC, RCom drop 4%

The Sensex has slipped 147 points at 8,790 on the back of a sudded bout of selling in the last half-hour or so. Earlier, the index has gained almost 300 points today.

Hindalco has plunged 5.5% to Rs 50. Jaiprakash Associates and HDFC have shed 4.5% each at Rs 65 and Rs 1,357, respectively.

Satyam and Reliance Communications have tumbled over 4% each to Rs 232 and Rs 201, respectively.

HDFC Bank and Larsen & Toubro have dropped 3.5% each to Rs 884 and Rs 737, respectively.

Tata Motors, Reliance Infrastructure and Grasim are down 3% each at Rs 135, Rs 461 and Rs 948, respectively.

ITC has surged over 3% to Rs 166. Mahindra & Mahindra and ACC have gained 2% each at Rs 307 and Rs 413, respectively.

Ranbaxy has moved up 1.7% to Rs 216. Maruti and Sterlite are up over 1% each at Rs 519 and Rs 221, respectively.