Sensex down 40pts; breadth turns negative

The Sensex is now down 40 points at 12,844.

Bajaj Auto has plunged 6.5% to Rs 2,917. HDFC Bank and Wipro have dropped 2.5% each to Rs 984 and Rs 561, respectively.

HDFC has shed 2% to Rs 1,483. Grasim and Maruti have slipped 1.4% each to Rs 2,588 and Rs 948, respectively.

Hero Honda and BHEL are down 1% each at Rs 750 and Rs 2,437, respectively.

Ranbaxy has surged 2.6% to Rs 422. ICICI Bank and Hindalco have rallied over 2% each to Rs 743 and Rs 187, respectively.

Reliance Communications has advanced nearly 2% to Rs 380. SBI and Dr.Reddy's have added 1.5% each to Rs 1,049 and Rs 726, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel and ITC are up 1% each at Rs 1,304, Rs 492 and Rs 195, respectively.

The market breadth is negative - out of 2,484 stocks traded so far, 1,224 have declined, 1,184 have advanced and 76 are unchanged.