Sensex down 31pts; auto stocks firm

The Sensex is now down 31 points at 15,016.

Tata Motors has soared 3.5% to Rs 740. Maruti has surged 1.7% to Rs 808. Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Auto have gained 1% each at Rs 787 and Rs 2,125, respectively.

Tata Steel has moved up 1.3% to Rs 633.

Satyam has advanced 1.5% to Rs 499, and Infosys has added 1% to Rs 2,016.

Reliance Communications has tumbled 2% to Rs 542. Ambuja Cements has plunged 1.7% to Rs 130.

HDFC Bank and ITC have plunged 1.5% each to Rs 1,150 and Rs 153, respectively.

Reliance Energy, SBI and Grasim have slipped 1.3% each to Rs 608, Rs 1,551 and Rs 2,730, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro, HDFC and Bharti Airtel are down over 1% each to Rs 2,387, Rs 1,902 and Rs 874, respectively.

Out of 2,694 stocks traded so far, 1,465 have declined, 1,154 have advanced and 75 are unchanged.