Weakness persists; Sensex down 435pts

The Sensex is now down 435 points at 9,614. Banking, realty and metal stocks continue to remain the major draggers on the index.

The BSE Bankex has slumped 7.5% to 4,468. The Metal index has plunged 7% to 6,110, and the Realty index has shed 6.7% at 1,525.

Jaiprakash Associates and ICICI Bank have slumped nearly 11% each to Rs 80 and Rs 344, respectively.

Sterlite, Tata Steel and Reliance Infrastructure have tumbled around 9.5% each to Rs 337, Rs 202 and Rs 514, respectively.

HDFC, Hindalco, TCS and Reliance Communications have plunged around 7.5% each to Rs 1,466, Rs 51, Rs 531 and Rs 170, respectively.

SBI and DLF have dropped over 7% each to Rs 1,045 and Rs 170, respectively.

Tata Motors has slipped 5.5% to Rs 179. HDFC Bank has declined nearly 5% to Rs 948.

BHEL, Wipro and Grasim are the other major losers.

Sun Pharma has rallied nearly 2% to Rs 1,100. NTPC has moved up 1.3% to Rs 184.

The market breadth is negative - out of 2,326 stocks traded, 1,409 have declined, 839 have advanced and 78 are unchanged.