Sensex down 199pts; REL, Bharti drop 3%

The Sensex is now down 199 points at 17,361.

Reliance Energy and Bharti Airtel have plunged 3% each to Rs 1,290 and Rs 940, respectively.

HDFC and NTPC have shed 2.5% each to Rs 2,337 and Rs 197, respectively.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Grasim, Satyam, Reliance and Maruti have slipped 2% each to Rs 712, Rs 2,460, Rs 3,430, Rs 451, Rs 2,421 and Rs 1,054, respectively.

Wipro, BHEL, ONGC and Larsen & Toubro have dropped 1.6% each to Rs 492, Rs 2,018, Rs 1,090 and Rs 2,975, respectively.

Ambuja Cements has soared nearly 4% to Rs 145.