Sensex down 358pts; ONGC, REL slip 5%

The Sensex is now down 358 points at 18,240.

NTPC has tumbled 7.5% to Rs 221, and DLF has plunged 6.6% to Rs 813.

ONGC and Reliance Energy have slumped 5% each to Rs 1,134 and Rs 1,609, respectively.

Tata Steel has shed 4% at Rs 789. Reliance Communications, HDFC, Larsen & Toubro and Bharti Airtel have dropped 3.5% each to Rs 657, Rs 2,508, Rs 3,965 and Rs 868, repsectively.

BHEL has slipped 2.5% to Rs 2,425. Grasim and Ranbaxy are down 1.7% each to Rs 3,575 and Rs 392, respectively.

SBI has rallied 2.8% to Rs 2,214. Bajaj Auto has gained 1.3% at Rs 2,454.

Out of 2,707 stocks traded so far, 2,107 have declined, 557 have advanced and 43 are unchanged.