Sensex down 19 pts, Auto stocks slump

After a mixed opening, the markets tumbled deep into the red as more stocks came under the grip of sustained selling pressure. Although buying is stock-specific, the index slipped below the 6,200-mark to touch a low of 6,170.

The Sensex is down 19 points at 6,202. The Nifty has lost 10 points to 1,945.

Reliance is trading weaker at Rs 518 - down Rs 2. While ITC is down a per cent (Rs 10) at Rs 1,232, HLL is down a tad at Rs 140.

SBI is trading with a per cent loss (Rs 4) at Rs 588. While ICICI Bank is down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 350, HDFC Bank is down a rupee at Rs 499.

ONGC has slipped 1.41% (Rs 11) to Rs 778.

Wipro has declined 2.46% (Rs 16) to Rs 653, and Satyam is down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 367. Infosys has moved up a per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 1,980.

Hero Honda has shed 4.69% (Rs 26) to Rs 531 on reports that the earnings may take a hit in coming quarters due to rising competition from its peers. While Bajaj has extended its losses by 1.55% (Rs 17) to Rs 1,095, Maruti is dwon 2% (Rs 9) at Rs 428. Tata Motors also is trading at lower levels at Rs 480 - down Rs 8 or 1.60%.

Hindalco has lost 1.23% (Rs 15) to Rs 1,244, and BHEL is down 1.44% (Rs 10) at Rs 714. While Tata Power has shed 2.18% (Rs 8) to Rs 350, Tisco is down 1.12% (Rs 4) at Rs 353.

Bharti, however, has advanced 2.60% (Rs 5) to Rs 213 in a bearish market.

Select banking stocks have attracted buying support. IDBI Bank has jumped 6.76% (Rs 5) to Rs 73. While Corporation Bank has added 6.64% to Rs 335, UTI Bank is up 2.60% at Rs 179. BoB is up 2% at Rs 213. Centurion Bank, however, has lost 3.73% to Rs 18.