Sensex plunges over 215 points

MUMBAI: The benchamrk Sensex plunged over 215 points in pre-close trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Thursday on heavy selling in blue-chip stocks led by Reliance Industries.

The Sensex lost 215.36 points at 12,397.02 few minutes before the close of the session. Similarly, the National Stock Excahnge index Nifty lost 66.35 points at 3687.90.

The index-heaviest and trend-setter Reliance Industries shares dropped by Rs 70.60 at Rs 1,099.50 on heavy profit-selling by funds. Reliance Petroleum, a unit of the RIL commenced at Rs 101.95 against the offered price of Rs 60, but fell on profit selling to touch a low of Rs 85.05 in its debut trading.

Other weakening blue-chip were Grasim Industries, ACC, Larsen and Toubro, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Ranbaxy and Satyam Computers.