Sensex ends down 79pts

Sensex has ended (provisional) at 17,907 - down 79 points.

The Nifty has ended (provisional) at 5,378 - down 22 points.
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(Updated at 1506 hrs)

Markets have fallen into red. The Sensex is now down 19 points at 17,966. Nifty is at 5,392 - down eight points.
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(Updated at 1406 hrs)

The Sensex has recovered somewhat after hitting a low of 18,009. Earlier in the day, the index had touched a high of 18,167 on buying in realty and banking stocks. However it started slipping as market heavyweight, Reliance, pared gains. The Sensex is now at 18,046 - up 60 points.

Nifty is up 17 points at 5,417.

BSE IT index has dropped 0.6% at 5,365. Infosys is the biggest IT loser and is now down 1% at Rs 2,764. MphasiS, HCL Technologies and Oracle Financial Services have also dropped in trades.

Mahindra & Mahindra has dropped 1.7% to Rs 621.

ONGC and ACC are the other main losers in the market today.

On the other hand, HDFC Bank and HDFC have gained 2% each at Rs 2,109 and Rs 3,125, respectively.

Hero Honda, Larsen & Toubro and SBI have added 1.4% each.

DLF and Hindalco have advanced over 1% each to Rs 320 and Rs 153, respectively.

Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Steel, NTPC and Tata Motors are the other gainers in trades today.