Markets extend losses

The markets have extended losses in the last few minutes. The Sensex is now down 54 points at 17,561. The Nifty is down 15 points at 5,248.
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(Updated at 1339 hrs)

The markets are moving sideways for the last 2-3 hours. The Sensex is now at 17,617, up one point. The NSE Nifty is at 5,266, up three points.

Among the Sensex-30 stocks, DLF has soared 3.5% to Rs 387. Jaiprakash Associates has increased 2.5% to Rs 163. Sun Pharma, Grasim Industries and NTPC have added 2% each at Rs 1,578, Rs 2,723 and Rs 232, respectively.

IT scrips like Infosys, Wipro and TCS continue to trade weak, down over 1.5% each at Rs 2,465, Rs 667 and Rs 705, respectively.

Maruti, HDFC and ICICI Bank were the other major losers on the BSE, down 1% each.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,898 shares traded, 1,999 have advanced and 833 have declined so far on the BSE.

Among the sectoral indices, realty index has advanced 3.5% to 4,082. The IT index on the other hand is down 2% at 4,961.