Sensex slips 77pts; ITC sheds 2%

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 35 points at 13,343, and soon slipped into the negative zone.

The index dropped to a low of 13,197, and is now down 77 points at 13,231.

ITC has shed 1.7% to Rs 147. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have slipped 1.5% each to Rs 1,008 and Rs 886, respectively.

Satyam and Reliance Energy are down over 1% each to Rs 461 and Rs 487, respectively.

Bharti Airtel has surged 1.5% to Rs 793. Reliance Communications and Grasim have gained 1% each at Rs 431 and Rs 2,101, respectively.