Sensex drops 25 pts in early trades

The Sensex opened on a firm note at 7,263 - up 15 points over its last close. After marginally inching up to a high of 7,263, the index came down tumbling following weakness in heavyweights, banking, tech and other select counters, and touched a low of 7,221.

The Sensex is now down 25 points at 7,223. The Nifty is down a point at 2,203.

ONGC has dropped 1.68% (Rs 15) to Rs 909. While Reliance is down a tad at Rs 631, ITC has gained a per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 1,745.

ICICI Bank has shed 2.10% (Rs 10) to Rs 454, while HDFC Bank has slipped a per cent (Rs 4) to Rs 640. SBI, however, is marginally up at Rs 728.

Infosys has slipped a per cent (Rs 15) to Rs 2,188, and TCS has shed 1.20% (Rs 15) to Rs 1,255. Satyam (up Rs 3 to Rs 488), however, is up with steady gains.

L&T has dropped 1.53% (Rs 19) to Rs 1,243, and BHEL is down a per cent (Rs 7) at Rs 871. Tata Power, however, has added 1.48% (Rs 6) to Rs 414.

Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy's and Cipla are up a per cent each at Rs 1,032, Rs 756 and Rs 327, respectively.

Hero Honda has lost 1.73% (Rs 11) to Rs 625, and Bajaj is down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,380. Tata Motors is up a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 464.