Sensex in red; breadth fairly -ve

The Sensex is now down 66 points at 8,969. Earlier in the day, the index opened 96 points lower at 8,939, touched a low of 8,922 in opening trades. The index, thereafter, rebounded into the positive zone and touched a high of 9,100.

ICICI Bank has slumped 4.5% to Rs 369, and HDFC have plunged nearly 4% to Rs 1,378.

SBI, Hindustan Unilever and Mahindra & Mahindra have shed 2% each at Rs 1,076, Rs 247 and Rs 293, respectively.

HDFC Bank and Hindalco have dropped 1.3% each to Rs 868 and Rs 42, respectively.

BHEL and Larsen & Toubro are down 1% each at Rs 1,366 and Rs 652, respectively.

Reliance has moved up 1.3% to Rs 1,284.

Bharti Airtel, ONGC and Tata Motors are up 1% each at Rs 639, Rs 684 and Rs 133, respectively.

The market breadth is fairly negative - out of 2,035 stocks traded so far, 1,193 have declined, 764 have advanced and the rest are unchanged.