Sensex ends down 208pts, SBI drops 3%

The Sensex opened with a bang at 15,452 - up 144 points from its previous close on the back of positive cues from the global markets. Fresh buying in morning trades saw the index rally to a high of 15,542.

Profit-taking at higher levels saw the index pare gains as the day progressed. Negative signals from the overseas markets, i.e weak opening for the European markets coupled with a steep fall in Dow futures, led to some nervousness in the markets.

The selling pressure intensified in noon deals, and the Sensex tumbled to a low of 15,062 - down 480 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended with a loss of 208 points at 15,100.

The BSE Oil & Gas index dropped 2% to 7891. The FMCG and IT index slipped over 1.5% each to 1920 and 4734, respectively. The Bankex and the Realty index were down over 1% each.

The market breadth, which was extremely bullish till noon, changed to fairly negative at the closing bell. Out of 2,670 stocks traded, 1,611 declined, 1,011 advanced and 48 were unchanged today.

INDEX SHAKERS...

Hindalco shed 3.6% to Rs 156. SBI and Reliance Energy plunged over 3% each to Rs 1,650 and Rs 758, respectively.

Ranbaxy, Satyam, Grasim and ONGC dropped around 2.5% each to Rs 372, Rs 467, Rs 2,912 and Rs 866, respectively.

ACC, HDFC and ITC tumbled over 2% each to Rs 1,001, Rs 2,020 and Rs 164, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Reliance slipped 1.8% each to Rs 869 and Rs 1,842, respectively. Larsen & Toubro was down 1.7% to Rs 2,450.

Infosys, Ambuja Cements and Reliance Communications declined around 1.5% each to Rs 1,936, Rs 128 and Rs 537, respectively.

TCS, Maruti and HDFC Bank were down around 1% each at Rs 1,141, Rs 829 and Rs 1,160, respectively.

...AND THE MOVERS

BHEL and Dr Reddy's advanced 1.3% each to Rs 1,734 and Rs 638, respectively. Cipla moved up nearly 1% to Rs 188.

MOST ACTIVE COUNTERS

Debutant Omaxe topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 443 crore followed by Orbit Corporation (Rs 341.60 crore), Reliance (Rs 198.20 crore), SBI (Rs 98.70 crore) and ICICI Bank (Rs 93 crore).

IKF Technologies led the volume chart with trades of around 1.54 crore shares followed by IFCI (1.32 crore), Reliance Natural (1.24 crore), Omaxe (1.21 crore) and Nagarjuna Fertilizers (1.08 crore).