Sensex down 600pts; BSE Metal index sheds 8%

The Sensex is now down 597 points at 9,939.

The BSE Metal index which surged nearly 11% is down over 8% today.

Hindalco and Jaiprakash Associates have slumped over 9% each to Rs 60 and Rs 88, respectively. Tata Steel has plunged 8.7% to Rs 196.

Sterlite has shed 8.5% at Rs 256. Satyam has tumbled over 8% to Rs 272.

Reliance, Tata Motors and BHEL have slipped over 7% each to Rs 1,208, Rs 158 and Rs 1,404, respectively.

DLF has dropped 6.6% to Rs 278. ONGC, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel and NTPC have slipped over 6% each to Rs 755, Rs 442, Rs 666 and Rs 152, respectively.

The market breadth is fairly negative - out of 2,457 stocks traded so far, 1,666 have declined, 730 have advanced and the rest are unchanged.