Sensex down 179pts; HDFC, Bharti drop 3%

The Sensex is now down 179 points at 13,730.

ICICI Bank has slumped 7.5% to Rs 863. HDFC has tumbled over 3% to Rs 1,632, and Bharti Airtel has shed 2.8% to Rs 803.

ONGC and Reliance Communications have plunged around 2.5% each to Rs 905 and Rs 449, respectively.

ITC, Larsen & Toubro, Dr.Reddy's and HDFC Bank have slipped around 2% each to Rs 157, Rs 1,645, Rs 699 and Rs 998, respectively.

Infosys has rallied nearly 2% to Rs 2,044. Satyam has advanced over 1% to Rs 473.

Tata Steel has surged 2.3% to Rs 550. Maruti is up 1% at Rs 803.

Out of 2,078 stocks traded so far, 1,057 have advanced, 951 have declined and 70 are unchanged.