Sensex falters oil stocks hit by fading diesel hike hopes

SENSEX-NIFTY-DIESEL-HPCL-HINDUSTAN-UNILEVER:Sensex falters oil stocks hit by fading diesel hike hopes

The BSE Sensex fell on Wednesday as worries the government would delay a hike in diesel prices hit state-run oil companies and routed blue chips, since the step was seen as badly needed to reduce the country's fiscal subsidy burden.

Hindustan Petroleum Corp dropped 1.2 percent. Among blue chips, recent outperformers were routed: Hindustan Unilever lost 2.5 percent a day after hitting record high.

The BSE Sensex provisionally fell 0.43 percent to 16,846.05 points, while the Nifty declined 0.36 percent to end at 5109.60 points.