Sensex touches a low of 11,003 on weaker world markets

Mumbai, May 19: The markets continued to be under pressure after yesterday's big fall by 826 points.

The BSE Sensex this morning touched a low of 11,003.56 after opening 158 points up at 11,549.67 marking an intra-day fall of 546 points.

However, the 30 share sensitive index recovered and traded 68 points down at 11,322.56 at 1056 hrs as compared to the last close of 11,391 points.

The 50 share National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index too dipped to a low of 3,258.90 losing 130 points in the morning but recovered and was trading at 3,383 down by six points around 1130 hrs.

The weaker global markets continued to influence the Indian markets with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closing 0.62 per cent lower; Nasdaq was down by 0.70 per cent and Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 0.69 per cent; Only the Japanese Nikkei was up by 45 per cent.

The big losers on the Sensex this morning were Tata Steel down by 4.48 per cent to Rs 521; Cipla was down by 4.35 per cent to Rs 234; BHEL was down by 3.94 per cent to Rs 2,030; Dr Reddy's Lab was down by 3.13 per cent to Rs 1505; ACC was down by 2.53 per cent to Rs 778.20 and Wipro was down 1.94 per cent to Rs 499.95.

The support for Sensex came from Reliance Industries which was up by 1.62 per cent; SBI was up by 1.54 per cent to Rs 922; Hindalco was up by 2.47 per cent to Rs 196.70; Reliance Energy was up by 0.28 per cent and HDFC Bank was up by 0.87 per cent to Rs 825.15.

UNI