As the Sensex entered its last hour of trading, the index is testing the 18,000 mark, after plunging to a low of 18,048. There are no positive cues from the global markets either to help recover. Hang Seng closed at 20,597 down 14.7 or0.07% while the Nikkei shut shop at 8,991 Up 84points or 0.95%.All the European idices too are trading in the red.In line with the benchmark index, the smallcap and the midcap too have fallen sharply.
The Sensex is down 139 points at 18,089 and the Nifty is at 5,434 shedding 43 points.
Among the sectoral indices on the BSE, Oil & Gas and PSU are the only two indices in the green.Realty has slumped to the bottom of the list and is down 2%.The other indices shedding more than 1% are Teck, Bankex and IT. All these indices have been in the red for the major part of the day.
ONGC up nearly 3% and Tata Steel adding 2% are the top gainers on the Sensex. Reliance Communications, Hindalco, ACC and Sterlite are the other gainers rounding the list.
DLF, ICICI Bank and Hero Honda down nearly 3% are the top losers on the Sensex.Jaiprakash Associates, Tata Power, Jindal Steel and Reliance Infrastructure are the other significant losers.
Market breadth is extremely negative.2009 stocks have declined while 931 have advanced.