Sensex down 659pts; HDFC plunges 8%

The Sensex is now down 659 points at 15,101.

The NSE Nifty is down 187 points at 4,559.

Jaiprakash (JP) Associates has slumped 9% to Rs 215. HDFC has plunged 8% to Rs 2,300.

ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and DLF have tumbled around 6% each to Rs 825, Rs 1,234 and Rs 616, respectively.

Tata Steel has dropped over 5% to Rs 678. Hindalco, Reliance Communications and BHEL have slipped 4.7% each to Rs 172, Rs 494 and Rs 1,793, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and ACC have declined over 4% each to Rs 721 and Rs 768, respectively.