Sensex down 173pts; tech stocks sag

The Sensex is now down 173 points at 12,951.

Wipro has tumbled 4% to Rs 563. Satyam has shed 3% to Rs 458.

HDFC, Hero Honda and Tata Motors have dropped 2.7% each to Rs 1,530, Rs 650 and Rs 734, respectively.

Maruti, Infosys, TCS and ICICI Bank have slipped around 2% each to Rs 801, Rs 2,015, Rs 1,236 and Rs 859, respectively.

Ranbaxy has rallied 2% to Rs 335. BHEL, Dr.Reddy's and Tata Steel have advanced over 1% each to Rs 2,280, Rs 689 and Rs 446, respectively.

Out of 2,292 stocks traded so far, 1,610 have declined, 623 have advanced and 59 are unchanged.