Sensex down 72pts; M&M, L&T weak

The Sensex is now down 72 points at 19,628.

DLF has dropped nearly 2% to Rs 1,065. HDFC Bank and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) have slipped 1.7% each to Rs 1,620 and Rs 740, respectively.

Cipla and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have declined 1.5% each to Rs 206 and Rs 4,016, respectively.

Reliance, BHEL and Maruti have also shed around 1.5% each at Rs 2,951, Rs 2,314 and Rs 855, respectively.

Hindalco and HDFC are down 1% each at Rs 189 and Rs 2,823, respectively.

Bajaj Auto and Ranbaxy have rallied 2.3% each to Rs 2,500 and Rs 376, respectively. Reliance Energy has advanced over 2% to Rs 2,260.

Ambuja Cements has gained 1.6% at Rs 133, and ACC has added 1.4% to Rs 872.

ICICI Bank and Grasim are up over 1% each at Rs 1,337 and Rs 3,344, respectively.

The market breadth is fairly negative - out of 2,742 stocks traded so far, 1,747 have declined, 953 have advanced and 42 are unchanged.