Sensex ends down 105pts

Sensex ends (provisional) at 17,123 - down 105 points. Nifty ends (provisional) down 35 points at 5,113. ___________________________________________________________

(Updated at 1503hrs)

The Sensex is still in the negative terrain and is now at 17,098, down 130 points. The NSE Nifty is at 5,101, down 46 points.

Among the sectoral indices, metal and bankex have slipped 2% each

Maruti is the top gainer on the Sensex, up 2% at Rs 1,599. It is followed by Bharti Airtel, Hero Honda and Reliance Communications  up over 1.5% each at Rs 335, Rs 1,702 and Rs 183, respectively.

TCS, Sun Pharma and Wipro are up 1% each.

Tata Steel is the major loser on the Sensex, down 4% at Rs 544. Hindalco and Sterlite have slipped 3% each to Rs 141 and Rs 837, respectively.

HDFC, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance Infrastructure are down 1-2% each.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,851 shares traded, 1,516 have advanced and 1,263 have declined so far on the BSE.