Sensex down 178pts; bank stocks decline

The Sensex is now down 178 points at 19,112.

Wipro has plunged 3.6% to Rs 460. ONGC has dropped 2.6% to Rs 1,255.

ICICI Bank has slipped over 3% to Rs 1,166. HDFC Bank and SBI have shed 2.3% each to Rs 1,581 and Rs 2,217, respectively.

Satyam has declined 2.3% to Rs 425. Reliance Communications, TCS and Bharti Airtel are down around 1.5% each to Rs 715, Rs 984 and Rs 887, respectively.

Ranbaxy and Hindalco have moved up 1.7% each to Rs 435 and Rs 192, respectively.

Hindustan Unilever and Reliance Energy are the other prominent gainers.