Sensex down 129pts; HDFC advances 2%

The Sensex is now down 129 points at 17,697.

The NSE Nifty is down 27 points at 5,241.

SBI has plunged 3.5% to Rs 2,011, and Reliance Energy has shed 2.3% at Rs 1,594.

Reliance, ICICI Bank and ACC have slipped around 1.8% each at Rs 2,539, Rs 1,094 and Rs 802, respectively.

ONGC, Ambuja Cements and DLF have dropped around 1.5% each at Rs 1,022, Rs 121 and Rs 814, respectively.

Wipro is down over 1% at Rs 435.

Hindalco has surged 2.3% to Rs 201. Cipla and Mahindra & Mahindra have rallied 2% each to Rs 206 and Rs 672, respectively.

HDFC has moved up 1.8% to Rs 2,733. Ranbaxy has gained 1.3% at Rs 442, and Bajaj Auto has added 1% to Rs 2,198.

Out of 2,749 stocks traded so far, 1,572 have declined, 1,108 have advanced and 69 are unchanged.