Sensex down 376pts; HDFC gains 3%

The Sensex is now down 376 points at 17,218.

The NSE Nifty is down 187 points at 5,016.

NTPC and Reliance Energy have slumped 8.5% each to Rs 205 and Rs 1,825, respectively.

Bajaj Auto, Larsen & Toubro and Maruti have plunged around 5% each to Rs 2,100, Rs 3,570 and Rs 785,  respectively.

DLF, Wipro and Hindalco have tumbled nearly 4.5% each to Rs 882, Rs 412 and Rs 154, respectively.

Grasim has slipped over 4% to Rs 2,900. Cipla and Tata Steel have declined 3.7% each to Rs 175 and Rs 671, respectively.

ONGC is down over 3% at Rs 960.

HDFC has surged nearly 3% to Rs 2,604. Hindustan Unilever has gained 2.3% at Rs 194.

Satyam has advanced 1.8% to Rs 400. Reliance Communications and Ranbaxy have gained 1.3% each at Rs 623 and Rs 355, respectively.

SBI and Infosys are up 1% each at Rs 2,348 and Rs 1,437, respectively.

Out of 2,724 stocks traded so far, 2,361 have declined, 345 have advanced and 18 are unchanged.