Anil Agarwal-run Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Industries was the worst performer in the Sensex pack and sank 8.58 per cent, following an order by the Madras High Court for closing the company's copper smelter plant in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu on environmental grounds.
Other metal stocks too were under pressure, with Hindalco dropping 2.63 per cent and Jindal Steel by 0.51 per cent. "The event after VAL debacle (Orissa mining issue) has once again intensified the uncertainty to the stock," brokerage house Prabhudas Lilladher said in a note.
Brisk selling was witnessed in FMCG and consumer durables stocks also. Bharti Airtel fell by 2.8 per cent, ITC by 2.75 per cent, ONGC by 2.6 per cent, Reliance Infra by 2.49 per cent and Maruti Suzuki by 2.26 per cent.
In the Sensex pack, 23 stocks ended with loss, while 7 scrips managed to close in the green.
