Sensex down 252pts; NTPC tumbles 7%

The Sensex is now down 252 points at 18,352.

NTPC has tumbled 6.5% to Rs 224, and Reliance Energy has plunged 5.5% to Rs 1,600.

DLF has slumped 5% to Rs 827. Reliance Communications and Larsen & Toubro have dropped 3.3% each to Rs 659 and Rs 3,974, repsectively.

Grasim has slipped 3% to Rs 3,528. Tata Steel, BHEL and ONGC have declined 2.8% each to Rs 798, Rs 2,416 and Rs 1,160, respectively.

ONGC has shed 2.5% at Rs 1,160. Bharti Airtel is down 2% at Rs 880.

SBI has rallied over 2% to Rs 2,200. Bajaj Auto has advanced 1.6% to Rs 2,460.

Out of 2,662 stocks traded so far, 1,927 have declined, 689 have advanced and 46 are unchanged.