Sensex below 10K, down 138pts

The Sensex has dropped below the 10,000-mark. The index touched a low of 9982, and is now down 138 points at 9986.

Grasim has slumped 4.6% to Rs 1,619.

Hindalco, Tata Motors, Hero Honda, HLL and Larsen & Toubro have plunged 3% each to Rs 155, Rs 775, Rs 894, Rs 231 and Rs 2,277, respectively.

ITC has shed 2.8% to Rs 162. HDFC Bank, ONGC, Tata Power, Cipla, ICICI Bank and HDFC have declined over 2% each to Rs 739, Rs 1,129, Rs 491, Rs 530, Rs 586 and Rs 1,313, respectively. 

Wipro up 2.2% at Rs 501, Ranbaxy up 1.8% at Rs 440 and Bajaj Auto up 1.2% at Rs 2,402 are the only notable gainers among the Sensex stocks.

The market breadth is extremely negative with over 73% of the traded stocks so far declining. Out of 2,562 stocks traded so far, 1,871 have declined, 642 have advanced and 49 are unchanged.