Sensex down 19 pts

Continuing from yesterday's sharp slide, the Sensex today opened nine points lower at 6,598.77. After moving in a range of 30-40 points loss in the first half, the index slipped sharply in mid-noon trades on extended selling pressure in old and new economy stocks to touch an intra-day low of 6,532.

Buying at lower levels in select stocks towards the closing hours saw the index pare losses to touch a high of 6,599.48 - still nine points down from its last close.

The Sensex finally wrapped up the session with a loss of 19 points at 6,589.

Infosys came off its lows to end down a per cent (Rs 13) at Rs 2,170. Wipro dipped 1.36% (Rs 10) to Rs 697, while Satyam was up Rs 2 at Rs 408.

ITC ended with a loss of Rs 6 at Rs 1,299. Reliance and HLL ended with marginal gains at Rs 535 and Rs 145, respectively.

SBI and HDFC Bank were down a per cent each at Rs 659 (down Rs 4) and Rs 557 (down Rs 3), respectively. ICICI Bank, however, bounced back into the green in late buying, and moved up 1.45% (Rs 5) to Rs 381.

Hero Honda dropped 3.27% (Rs 18) to Rs 531. Bajaj and Tata Motors were down a per cent each at Rs 1,035 (down Rs 11) and Rs 489 (down Rs 3), respectively. Maruti, however, was up Rs 2 at Rs 473.

ONGC added Rs 3 to Rs 809.

Bharti shed 2.44% (Rs 5) to Rs 209, and Hindalco tumbled 1.55% (Rs 21) to Rs 1,363. Tisco, however, advanced 1.32% (Rs 5) to Rs 412, while L&T clocked a per cent gain (Rs 6) to Rs 1,019.

Ranbaxy lost 1.16% (Rs 12) to Rs 1,039. Dr. Reddy's and Cipla ended with marginal losses at Rs 740 and Rs 274, respectively.

Grasim at Rs 1,353 (down Rs 12) lost ground on selling pressure.  Gujarat Ambuja and ACC were down Rs 2 each at Rs 441 and Rs 367, respectiely.