Sensex down 79pts; NTPC slips 2%

The Sensex is now down 79 points at 12,849.

HLL, Grasim and HDFC have dropped over 2% each to Rs 232, Rs 2,610 and Rs 1,513, respectively.

NTPC has shed 1.8% to Rs 129. HDFC Bank, Infosys and TCS have slipped around 1.5% each to Rs 1029, Rs 2,065 and Rs 1,114, respectively.

Larsen & Toubro, Tata Motors and Reliance Communications are down over 1% each.

Satyam has surged over 2% to Rs 446. BHEL has gained 1.8% at Rs 2,459.

Out of 2,418 stocks traded so far, 1,535 have declined, 812 have advanced and 71 are unchanged.