Opening with a negative gap of 146 points at 9,902 on Monday, the Sensex nosedived more than 450 points, as traders cast off frontier banking, metals and realty space. A week back, the Sensex had leaped over 12 percent; and due to a rise in stock market rally - kicking off from the US affecting markets the world over - the Sensex rose more than 23 per cent in the past twelve trading sessions.

The market sentiment was predominated by the extensive weakness in global markets, as well as rumors about GM planning to file for bankruptcy! While Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex dropped 4.01 percent, or 464.22 points, and ended at 9584.27; the 30-share index touched a low of 9,520.96 and intra-day high of 9902.35.

So far as sectoral indexes are concerned, BSE Bankex fell 8.41 per cent; BSE Metal Index crashed 7.40 per cent; and BSE Realty Index was down by 6.84 per cent.

With markets remaining weak the whole day through, the chief losers included ICICI Bank with 12.36% fall; Tata Steel with 12.24%; Jaiprakash Associates with 12.17%; Reliance Infrastructure with 11.6%; and DLF with 9.58% drop. The only gainer, with marginal gains, was NTPC.

However, broader markets still managed to do better than the yardsticks, with the broader index hitting a low of 2962.40 and a high of 3110.20 in trade thus far.