Sensex down 341pts; REL, HDFC Bank drag

The Sensex has opened with a negative gap of 171 points at 20,080, and soon broke the 20,000-mark to touch a low of 19,905. The index is now down 341 points at 19,910.

Reliance Energy (REL) has plunged over 4% to Rs 2,265. HDFC Bank has tumbled 4% to Rs 1,715.

Tata Motors has dropped nearly 3% to Rs 747, and Hindalco has shed 2.5% at Rs 193.

ICICI Bank, NTPC and Tata Steel have declined 2% each to Rs 1,323, Rs 268 and Rs 835, respectively.

BHEL, DLF and Reliance Communications are down nearly 2% each to Rs 2,370, Rs 1,155 and Rs 764, respectively.

TCS, however, has gained 1.3% at Rs 950.