Sensex down 41 pts; Bharti, auto stocks reel

The Sensex is marginally above the 6,700-mark with a steep loss of 41 points at 6,706 as auto, select banking and other old economy conters continue to trade at lower levels. The Nifty, too, has eased further by 18 points to 2,108.

Reliance is down a per cent (Rs 6) at Rs 568, while HLL is down a rupee at Rs 134.

HDFC Bank has tumbled 2.34% (Rs 14) to Rs 580. While SBI has gained Rs 4 to Rs 732, ICICI Bank is up a notch at Rs 401.

HPCL has lost nearly 2% (Rs 7) to Rs 333.

Grasim has slumped 1.78% (Rs 24) to Rs 1,316, with other cement stocks, too, trading at lower levels.

Bharti continues to trade with steep loss, and has shed 3.72% (Rs 8) to Rs 202. While Hindalco has edged lower by 1.44% (Rs 21) to Rs 1,423, L&T is down 1.20% (Rs 13) at Rs 1,055.

Hero Honda has declined 1.54% (Rs 8) to Rs 545. While Maruti has lost 1.69% (Rs 8) to Rs 442, Bajaj is down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,085.

ONGC, however, has erased its losses and is marginally up by Rs 2 at Rs 909. Wipro is up Rs 4 at Rs 685.