Sensex down 559pts; Rel Energy slumps 10%

The Sensex is now down 559 points at 15,983. The markets are now closed due to 'sun outage' and will reopen at 1230 hrs.

The NSE Nifty is down 164 points at 4,757.

Reliance Energy has slumped 10% to Rs 1,312. Bajaj Auto has tumbled 7% to Rs 1,979.

Hindalco and ICICI Bank have shed 6% each at Rs 196 and Rs 900, respectively.

Maruti has plunged 5.5% to Rs 889. Ranbaxy has slipped over 5% to Rs 430, and NTPC has shed 4.7% at Rs 186.

Tata Motors and HDFC Bank have dropped 4.3% each to Rs 672 and Rs 1,280, respectively.

Satyam, BHEL and DLF are down 4% each at Rs 416, Rs 1,999 and Rs 655, respectively.

Out of 2,480 stocks traded so far, 2,282 have declined, 176 have advanced and 22 are unchanged.