Sensex slumps 52 pts, HLL drops 3%

After moving in a narrow range till early noon trades, the market, on fresh bout of selling in heavyweights, tech, banking and other old economy stocks, has tumbled sharply in the current trades.

The Sensex, as a result, has dropped 52 points to 6,542. The Nifty, too, has faltered on all-round selling pressure, and has shed 18 points to 2,052.

HLL has tumbled 2.90% (Rs 5) to Rs 156. While ITC is down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,319, Reliance is down Rs 2 at Rs 535.

ONGC is trading a per cent lower (Rs 8) at Rs 816, and Zee has shed 2.27% (Rs 4) to Rs 153.

SBI has declined 1.13% (Rs 7) to Rs 645. HDFC Bank has scaled down 1.96% (Rs 12) to Rs 576, and ICICI Bank is down a tad at Rs 366.

Wipro has lost 1.47% (Rs 10) to Rs 681. Infosys (down Rs 6 to Rs 2,038) is trading off-gain, and Satyam is down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 402.

HDFC has shed 3% (Rs 25) to Rs 789. Bharti has edged lower by 2.67% (Rs 6) to Rs 204, while Tisco is down 1.25% (Rs 5) at Rs 395.

ACC is up a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 377. Grasim (down Rs 4 to Rs 1,346) and Gujarat Ambuja (down Rs 3 to Rs 453) have slipped into the red.

BHEL (up Rs 10 or 1.23% to Rs 809), however, is trading off-highs on profit-taking.