The Sensex on Friday opened in the red at 12,093, down 24 points. The index swung between zones till noon wherein it touched a high of 12,180. The index then broke down owing to rise in inflation rates and profit taking at higher levels. Uncertainity over the election results also weighed on the market sentiments.
The index touched a low of 11,765, down 415 points from the day's high.
The Sensex finally ended down 241 points at 11,876. The NSE Nifty ended at 3621, down 63 points.
Metal stocks plunged 2.5% to 7,950. IT index slipped 2% to 2,725. Banking stocks were the major loser and shed over 3% to 6,007.
The market breadth was neutral. Out of 2,621 stocks traded, 1,267 declined while 1,266 advanced. The rest were unchanged.
INDEX SHAKERS...
Wipro slumped 7% to Rs 355. ICICI Bank, Sterlite and Reliance Infrastructure plunged 5% each to Rs 521, Rs 492 and Rs 769, respectively.
Mahindra & Mahindra , HDFC, Reliance Communications and Tata Steel shed 4% each at Rs 494, Rs 1,740, Rs 230 and Rs 283, respectively.
ACC, BHEL and SBI dropped over 3% each.
HDFC Bank, Hindalco, Infosys, DLF, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, Tata Power, Reliance, ITC and ONGC declined 1-3% each.
...AND MOVERS
Jaiprakash Associates gained 2.5% at Rs 142. Hindustan Unilever advanced 1% to Rs 233.
OTHER PROMINENT LOSERS
United Spirits tumbled nearly 7% to Rs 667. Jain Irrigation Systems plunged 5.5% to Rs 490.
United Phosphorus, Glenmark Pharma, RECL, Godrej Industries, Ambuja Cement, Jindal Steel, Tulip Telecom, JSW Steel, Adani Enterprises, Zee Entertainment, IVRCL Infrastructure and Cadila Healthcare declined 4-5%