Sensex ends down 229pts; Reliance sheds 4%

The Sensex opened with a negative gap of 170 points at 9,160 on theback of weak cues from the Asian markets, which were down around 2-3% this morning.

The index soon tumbled to a low of 9,034 - down 296 points from the previous close - and thereafter exhibited ranged movement for rest of the trading day. The Sensex finally ended with a loss of 229 points at 9,101.

The BSE Metal index shed 3.8% at 4,897. The Realty index dropped 3.3% to 1,703, and the Bankex slipped over 3% to 4,834. The Power index, however, gained 1.4% at 1,804.

The market breadth also was negative - out of 2,454 stocks traded, 1,342 declined, and 1,018 advanced, today.

INDEX SHAKERS...

Tata Steel slumped 6.3% to Rs 195. Bharti Airtel plunged nearly 5% to Rs 615.

Sterlite and Reliance Communications tumbled 4.7% each to Rs 258 and Rs 176, respectively.

Jaiprakash Associates, HDFC and Hindalco shed over 4% each at Rs 66, Rs 1,483 and Rs 49, respectively.

Reliance and ICICI Bank slipped nearly 4% each to Rs 1,182 and Rs 397, respectively.

ACC and Maruti dropped 3.3% each to Rs 485 and Rs 559, respectively.

SBI, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and DLF declined 3% each to Rs 1,112, Rs 912, Rs 300, Rs 146 and Rs 189, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever and Larsen & Toubro were down nearly 3% each at Rs 246 and Rs 707, respectively.

...AND THE MOVERS

NTCP surged 4.3% to Rs 186. Reliance Infrastructure rallied over 3% to Rs 552, and Tata Power gained 1% at Rs 770.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Educomp Solutions topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 198.70 crore followed by Reliance (Rs 186 crore), Reliance Infrastructure (Rs 152 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 150.75 crore) and Satyam (Rs 119.90 crore).

Satyam led the volume chart with trades of around 4.59 crore shares followed by Cals Refineries (2.71 crore), Unitech (2.48 crore), GVK Power (1.02 crore) and Suzlon Energy (98.45 lakh).