Sensex down 97pts; SBI zooms 5%

The Sensex is now down 97 points at 18,506.

NTPC has tumbled 6.5% to Rs 224, and DLF has slumped 5.5% to Rs 822.

ONGC has plunged over 5% to Rs 1,130, Reliance Energy has shed 4.5% at Rs 1,617.

Larsen & Toubro and HDFC have dropped over 3% each to Rs 3,970 and Rs 2,519, repsectively.

Tata Steel has slipped 2.5% at Rs 802, and Bharti Airtel has declined 2% to Rs 880.

SBI has zoomed 5.5% to Rs 2,273. Hindalco has gained 1.5% at Rs 187.

Bajaj Auto and Maruti have advanced 1% each to Rs 2,450 and Rs 961, respectively.

Out of 2,757 stocks traded so far, 2,133 have declined, 588 have advanced and 36 are unchanged.