Sensex ends down over 625pts

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 60 points at 18,199, which also turned out to be the high for the day.

The index plunged to a low of 17,492 in late noon deals - an intra-day decline of nearly 650 points from the previous close.

The Sensex finally closed (provisional) with a loss of 626 points at 17,513.

The NSE Nifty closed (provisional) with a loss of 191 points at 5,132.