Sensex down 81pts; Tata Steel surges 2.5%

The Sensex opened with a negative gap of 34 points at 12,401. The index soon plunged to a low of 12,224 - down 211 points from its previous close.

The index is now down 81 points at 12,354.

Gujarat Ambuja has slipped over 2% to Rs 112. ACC has dropped 2% to Rs 947.

Reliance has shed 2% to Rs 1,087. ONGC is down 1% at Rs 1,443.

ICICI Bank has declined 2% to Rs 648. HDFC Bank and SBI have slipped 1% each to Rs 860 and Rs 966, respectively. HDFC has dropped 1.4% to Rs 1,370.

Tata Steel has surged 2.5% to Rs 654. Hindalco and Hero Honda have gained 1.3% each at Rs 246 and Rs 883, respectively.

Dr.Reddy's has moved up 1% to Rs 1,648.

Out of 2,402 stocks traded so far, 1,205 have declined, 1,142 have advanced and 55 are unchanged.