Unabated selling in heavyweights - Reliance, Reliance Communications and Tata Steel saw the index extend its losses as the day progressed. Higher than expected inflation numbers further dampened the sentiment.
The index tumbled to its lowest level in this calendar year to 14,519 - down 683 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended with a loss of 517 points at 14,571.
The NSE Nifty was down 157 points at 4,348.
The market breadth was extremely negative - out of 2,740 stocks traded, 2,243 declined, 453 advanced and 44 were unchanged today.
INDEX SHAKERS...
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Reliance and Reliance Communications plunged over 6.5% each to Rs 2,097 and Rs 491, respectively. Hindalco, too, tumbled nearly 6.5% to Rs 161.
Jaiprakash Associates shed 6% at Rs 167. Reliance Infrastructure dropped 5% to Rs 963.
Bharti Airtel, Ambuja Cements, Tata Steel and DLF slipped over 4.5% each to Rs 766, Rs 85, Rs 778 and Rs 456, respectively
SBI declines over 4% to Rs 1,248. Satyam shed 3.5% at Rs 455, and Wipro dropped 3% to Rs 474.
Tata Motors, Hindustan Unilever and ITC were down around 2.7% each at Rs 489, Rs 226 and Rs 199, respectively.
TCS, Maruti, ICICI Bank, Cipla, HDFC and ACC were down around 2.5% each.
...AND THE MOVER
ONGC gained 1.5% at Rs 867 and was the sole gainer among the index stocks.
VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS
Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 387.20 crore followed by Anu Labs (Rs 263.70 crore), Niraj Cement (Rs 233.70 crore), Reliance Capital (Rs 233.25 crore) and Reliance Petroleum (Rs 201 crore).
Reliance Natural Resources led the volume chart with trades of around 1.33 crore shares followed by IFCI (1.28 crore), Niraj Cement (1.17 crore), Reliance Petroleum (1.15 crore) and Chambal Fertilisers (1.08 crore).