Sensex down 23 pts, pharma stocks slide

The Sensex, which plunged deep into the red in early trades to touch a low of 6,233, has minimised its losses in current trades to 6,255 (down 23 pts) as selling continues in select heavyweights, banking, pharma and cement stocks. The Nifty is down four points at 1,931.

HLL is down 1.75% (Rs 2) at Rs 140, while Reliance is trading marginally lower at Rs 538.

HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have slipped a per cent each to Rs 533 (down Rs 5) and Rs 381 (down Rs 3), respectively. SBI, too, is trading in the red at Rs 617 - down Rs 3.

Ranbaxy has dropped 2.26% (Rs 21) to Rs 887. While Cipla has extended its losses by 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 249, Dr. Reddy's is down a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 651.

Grasim has slumped 2.36% (Rs 29) to Rs 1,195, while ACC is down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 362. Gujarat Ambuja, however, is up a notch at Rs 424.

Hindalco has lost 1.37% (Rs 17) to Rs 1,237. BHEL (down Rs 9 to Rs 812) and Reliance Energy (down Rs 5 to Rs 489) are also exhibiting weak trends.

ITC is up a per cent (Rs 11) at Rs 1,412, and ONGC is up with a steady gain of Rs 2 at Rs 834.

Infosys is down a per cent (Rs 12) at Rs 1,908. While Satyam has advanced 1.66% (Rs 7) to Rs 417, Wipro is up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 641.

Bharti has recovered from its early lows with a per cent gain (Rs 2) at Rs 204.