Sensex down 235pts; ICICI, HDFC Bank drag

The Sensex opened with a negative gap of 121 points at 19,580, and soon dropped to a low of 19,434. The index is now down 235 points at 19,466.

HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have plunged 2.5% each to Rs 1,605 and Rs 1,289, respectively.

BHEL has shed 2% at Rs 2,303.

Reliance, DLF and Reliance Communications have slipped 1.5% each to Rs 2,951, Rs 1,070 and Rs 719, respectively.

HDFC and Satyam are down over 1% each at Rs 2,815 and Rs 368, respectively.

Grasim and Bajaj Auto, however, are up 1% each at Rs 3,339 and Rs 2,465, respectively.