Sensex drops 80pts

The slipped tocuhed a low of 9495, and is now down 80 points at 9503.

Ranbaxy is up nearly 4% (Rs 15) at Rs 393.

HDFC has declined 2.6% to Rs 1,230.

Hero Honda, Infosys, Tata Power, Reliance, Bharti Tele, HLL, HDFC Bank, Dr.Reddy's, Tata Steel, Satyam, TCS and Reliance Energy are down 1-2% each.

Sterlite Optical has soared over 5% to Rs 105. Aurobindo Pharma, Rolta, Syndicate Bank, Godrej Consumers, Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, CESC, Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank, Asahi India, Essel Propack, ICI India, Hindustan Zinc, IBP, J&K Bank and EIH have advanced by 1-4% each.

Apollo Tyres has slipped 3.3% to Rs 292. FDC, Strelite, UTI Bank, JB Chemicals, Escorts, VSNL, Thermax, Ballarpur Industries, IPCL, Indian Overseas Bank, Wyeth, Century Enka, Chambal Fertilisers, Bharat Electricals and Cummins are down 2-3% each.

Out of 2,279 stocks traded so far, 959 have moved up, 1,401 have declined and the rest are unchanged.