Sensex down 79pts; Hindalco sheds 6%

The Sensex is now down 79 points at 19,706.

ITC has zoomed 8% to Rs 205. Grasim has soared 5.3% to Rs 3,810.

Dr.Reddy's has surged 3.5% to Rs 621. Mahindra & Mahindra has rallied 1.7% to Rs 732, and Bharti Airtel has gained 1% at Rs 909.

Hindalco has plunged 6.4% to Rs 202. Ranbaxy and Larsen & Toubro have tumbled over 3% each to Rs 410 and Rs 4,360, respectively.

Reliance Communications, ICICI Bank and Tata Steel have dropped around 2.5% each to Rs 707, Rs 1,218 and Rs 840, respectively.

NTPC and Infosys have slipped 2% each to Rs 264 and Rs 1,620, respectively.

BHEL and Reliance Energy are down 1.5% each at Rs 2,780 and Rs 1,827, respectively.

Out of 2,854 stocks traded so far, 1,906 have advanced, 901 have declined and 47 are unchanged.