<b>Sensex below 15K, down 809pts </b>

The Sensex is now down 809 points at 14,951.

The NSE Nifty is down 220 points at 4,525.

HDFC has slumped 10% to Rs 2,255. ICICI Bank has plunged 8.8% to Rs 801.

Jaiprakash (JP) Associates has tumbled 7.5% to Rs 219. Reliance Communications has dropped 6.5% to Rs 485.

Tata Steel, Reliance Energy and HDFC Bank have slipped over 6% each to Rs 671, Rs 1,216 and Rs 1,237, respectively.

Ranbaxy and SBI have declined nearly 6% each to Rs 437 and Rs 1,615, respectively.

Hindalco, Reliance and DLF are down around 5.5% each at Rs 171, Rs 2,193 and Rs 619, respectively.

Out of 2,576 stocks traded so far, 2,286 have declined, 257 have advanced and 33 are unchanged.