Tech scrips tumble, Sensex ends down 208pts

Taking the cue from the global markets, the Sensex opened marginally (four points) lower at 13856, and soon slipped deeper into negative zone.

Unabated selling in technology and auto stocks saw the index tumble to a low of 13,600. Selective buying at lower levels saw the index recover some loss, but eventually ended with a loss of 208 points (1.5%) at 13,652.

The IT index shed 2.6% to 5205. The Metal index dropped nearly 2% to 8815. The Bankex and Auto index slipped over 1% each to 7083 and 5527, respectively.

While the mid-cap index ended marginally (0.4%) lower at 5912, the Small-cap index moved up 0.8% to 7251.

The market breadth was positive - out of 2,724 stocks traded, 1,741 advanced, 934 declined and the rest were unchanged today.

INDEX MOVERS & SHAKERS

Wipro, Infosys and Satyam plunged over 3% each to Rs 580, Rs 2,206 and Rs 486, respectively. TCS, however, recovered from the day's low of Rs 1,217 to end at Rs 1,246 - down 1.3%.

Maruti tumbled 4% (Rs 38) to Rs 897. Bajaj Auto shed 2.5% at Rs 2,712.

Reliance Communications, ACC, SBI, HDFC Bank and Hindalco dropped around 2.5% each to Rs 435, Rs 1,028, Rs 1,213, Rs 1,028 and Rs 167, respectively.

Bharti Airtel and Cipla were also down nearly 2.5% each to Rs 621 and Rs 248, respectively.

Hero Honda, ITC, TCS, HDFC, HLL, Gujarat Ambuja, BHEL and Tata Steel declined 1-2% each today.

ONGC gained nearly 2% at Rs 911, and Ranbaxy spurted over 1% to Rs 419.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Infosys topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 148 crore followed by Pyramid Saimira (Rs 137.80 crore), Tech Mahindra (Rs 134.70 crore), Sobha Developers (Rs 105.25 crore) and Reliance (Rs 95 crore).

IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 1.40 crore shares followed by Pentium Infotech (1.29 crore), Pyramid Saimira (81.53 lakh), Vishal Exports (75.25 lakh) and Harig Cranks (51.64 lakh).