<b>Budget 2008: </b> Sensex down 128pts

The Sensex is now down 128 points at 17,696.

The NSE Nifty is down 43 points at 5,242.

Wipro has shed 2.3% at Rs 436. Hindalco, ICICI Bank and Bharti Airtel have plunged 2% each to Rs 200, Rs 1,082 and Rs 828, respectively.

Tata Motors has tumbled 1.7% to Rs 698. Tata Steel and ONGC have slipped 1.4% each to Rs 812 and Rs 1,025, respectively.

ACC, Reliance Communications and Reliance Energy are down around 1% each at Rs 798, Rs 579 and Rs 1,586, respectively.

ITC has gained 1.5% at Rs 205.

The market breadth is positive - out of 2,117 stocks traded so far, 1,214 have advanced, 849 have declined and the rest are unchanged.