Sensex down 455pts; ONGC slips 5%

The Sensex is now down 455 points at 18,453.

ONGC has plunged 5% to Rs 1,177. Reliance Communications has tumbled 4.3% to Rs 679, and BHEL has shed 4% at Rs 2,663.

ICICI Bank has dropped 3.8% to Rs 1,100. HDFC Bank and
Reliance have slipped over 3% each to Rs 1,487 and Rs 2,650, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro, Tata Steel, ACC and Infosys are down nearly 3% each to Rs 4,009, Rs 810, Rs 1,010 and Rs 1,657, respectively.

ITC has gained 2% at Rs 172, and Hindustan Unilever is up 1% at Rs 195.