Sensex down 259pts; Satyam, Wipro gain

The Sensex is now down 259 points at 17,514.

ACC and Tata Steel have plunged around 5% each to Rs 1,116 and Rs 792, respectively.

Reliance Energy, Hindalco, Ranbaxy, NTPC and SBI have shed around 4.5% each to Rs 1,381, Rs 162, Rs 414, Rs 205 and Rs 1,781, respectively.

Dr.Reddy's has slipped nearly 4% to Rs 628. Mahindra & Mahindra, ONGC and Grasim are down over 3% each at Rs 727, Rs 935 and Rs 3,434, respectively.

Satyam has advanced 2.4% to Rs 455. Wipro has gained 1.5% at Rs 468.

Out of 2,773 stocks traded so far, 2,273 have declined, 454 have advanced and 46 are unchanged.