The 30-share BSE Sensex continued to trade negative with heavy selling activity seen across all the sectoral indices.

Banking and Metal stocks were hammered badly.

Meanwhile, BSE Bankex (4.18%), Metal (3.44%), IT (2.71%) and Oil&Gas (2.52%) were among major losers in the sectoral indices.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap declined 1.58% and 1.24% respectively.

India`s Exports in January 2008-09 fell by 15.9% to $12,381 million as against the level of $14,717 million in January 2008. In rupee terms, exports touched Rs 604.60 billion that was 4.3% higher than the value of exports in January 2007-08.
 
Cumulative value of exports saw the growth of 13.2% to $144,266 million for the period April- January 2008-09 as against $127,454 million.

At 02.04 p.m., the 30-share index Sensex lost 254.27 points at 8,637.34. It also touched a high of 8,762.88 and a low of 8,629.92.

In contrast, Nifty lost 81.20 points at 2,682.45 after hitting a high of 2,764.60 and a low of 2,677.65. (02.04 p.m.)

The overall market breadth was negative with 690 stocks progressed and 1,502 went down.

The major gainers in the 30-share index included Mahindra & Mahindra (2.47%) and Maruti Suzuki India (0.38%).

On the other hand, the major losers were Reliance Energy (-7.15%), Tata Steel (-6.15%), Reliance Communications (-5.18%), ICICI Bank (-5.14%), and HDFC Bank (-4.50%).