Sensex plunges by 181 points, closes at 19, 079

Mumbai, Dec 18: The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) today tumbled by 181 points before closing at 19, 079. The Midcap and small cap index too plunged by 11 and 21 points respectively.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange posted 0.6 per cent of loss before closing at 5, 742. At BSE Hindustan Unilever dropped over three per cent to Rs 211; L&T slipped nearly three per cent to Rs 3,968. HDFC and ICICI Bank declined over two per cent each to Rs 2,812 and Rs 1,141, respectively. Reliance was down 1.8 per cent Rs 2,729.

ONGC, HDFC Bank, REL and M&M also rallied at the BSE stock market. Cipla was firm right through the day, and finished with a gain of nearly four per cent at Rs. 216. ITC was up two per cent Rs 198. NTPC and Ranbaxy closed with gains of over one per cent each at Rs 232 and Rs 410, respectively.

ANI>