Sensex ends 150pts down

The Sensex has finally ended (provisional) at 16,950, down 150 points.

The NSE Nifty has ended (provisional) at  5,057, down 52 points.
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(Updated at 1513hrs)

The Sensex has recovered from its day's low and is now at 16,973, down 129 points.

The NSE Nifty is at 5,063, down 63 points.
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(Updated at 1413hrs)

The Sensex is now near its day's low and is at at 17,012, down 89 points.

The NSE Nifty is at 5,069, down 40 points.

Sterlite is the top loser on the BSE, down 3% at Rs 859, followed by Tata Steel, up 2.5% at Rs 559. Reliance and Hindalco are down 2% each at Rs 1,067 and Rs 144, respectively.

Bharti Airtel has advanced 3% to Rs 319 and Reliance communiations is up 2% at Rs 183. The other gainers include HDFC, TCS, HDFC Bank and Wipro, up 1% each.

The market breadth remains positive, out of 2,779 shares traded, 1,503 have advanced and 1,186 have declined so far on the BSE.

The BSE Metal index is the major dragger on the sectoral indices, down 3% at 16,416. Oil & gas and realty indices are down over 1% each.