Sensex ends down 241pts

The Sensex has ende (provisional) at 17,533 - down 241 points. Nifty has ended (provisional) at 5,256 - down 78 points.
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(Updated at 1509 hrs)

Markets exhibited weakness throughout the day and slumped even further in late trades on negative cues from Asian and European markets.

The Sensex opened flat in the morning but started declining immediately. Weakness in banking stocks, along with metal and realty stocks dragged the markets lower in late noon trades. The Sensex is now down 243 points at 17,533.

The Nifty is down 79 points at 5,255.

All the sectoral indices continue to be in red, with metal, realty and oil sectors leading the fall.

Metal heavyweight, Hindalco has plunged 5% to Rs 144. Tata Steel has dropped 3.7% to Rs 481. Jindal Steel has shed 2.6% at Rs 621. Sterlite has dropped 1.7% to Rs 167.

Reliance Communications has dropped 4% to Rs 193. Reliance Infrastructure has slipped 3% to Rs 1,177.

Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Jaiprakash Associates, HDFC Bank and Tata Power are the main losers.

DLF, reliance, Cipla, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC, BHEL and Mahindra & Mahindra have declined 1-2% each.

Among the gainers, ONGC has added 0.5% to Rs 1,311. Bharti Airtel and Hero Honda are trading flat.

BSE market breadth is negative. Out of 2,952 stocks traded, 1,768 have declined while 1,090 have advanced.