Sensex falls 200 points; RIL, SBI, ICICI Bank big losers

Huge profit booking in banking stocks, sell-off in Reliance Industries and decline of rupee to one-year low triggered a wave of negative inverstor sentiment that pulled Sensex down over 200 points. Reliance fell more than 2%. The 50-share NSE Nifty lost 60 points to 5,081 and the 30-share BSE Sensextumbled over 200 points to 16,943.

SBI and ICICI Bank were down 1.5-2% among financial stocks. Axis Bank plunged 3% and HDFC Bank was down just 0.67%.

Capital goods stocks like BHEL and L&T too went down 1.5% each. Metal stocks hammered the most; the respective index fell 2%. SAIL, Sterlite Industries, Hindalco, JSPL and Tata Steel 1-3.5%.

Technology stocks like TCS and Infosys slid 1.5-2.5%.

However, HUL and Hero Motocorp were biggest gainers; both gained 2% each. ONGC, HDFC, PNB, M&M, Ranbaxy Labs and IDFC too moved up.

Minor earthquake shakes Delhi, no damage reported

An earthquake measuring 4.2 shook New Delhi and surrounding areas late on Wednesday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries, authorities said.

Tremors lasting several seconds shook buildings across New Delhi, Reuters witnesses said.

The Meteorological department said on its website that the quake measures 4.2 compared with earlier local media reports that an earthquake measuring 6.6 had hit the capital.

Throughout the city people quickly rushed out onto the streets fearing a major quake, as the epicentre was near Delhi.

Blast outside gate No. 5 of Delhi HC; 9 dead, 45 injured

An explosion has been reported outside Delhi High Court's Gate number 5 at 10:15 am. Initial reports confirm 45 people have been injured while 9 have succumbed to their injuries.

The injured have been moved to RML Hospital.

The explosion occurred outside gate No. 5 where 100 to 200 people were waiting in queue to get passes for entry into the court complex. The nature and magnitude of the blast was immediately not known.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will make a statement at 12:30 pm. The Union Home secretary says initial investigation suggests the bomb was apparently placed in a suitcase.

Court business is usually heavy on Wednesday which is listed as a Public Interest Litation(PIL) day when the visitors come to the court in large numbers. Gate number 5 is where the passes are made for litigants.

The explosion is said to have taken place right outside the reception. Police control at Gate no. 5 is said to be minimal.

Two fire tenders have rushed to the scene. The police have cordoned off the area

Blast outside gate No. 5 of Delhi High Court; 24 injured.

An explosion has been reported outside Delhi High Court's Gate number 5 at 10:15 am. Eye witnesses say many are injured. Initial reports coming in take the number to 24. The injured have been taken to RML Hospital.

Two fire tenders have rushed to the scene. The police have cordoned off the area.

Gate number 5 is where the passes are made for litigants. The explosion happened right outside the 

India gold futures seen higher at open

India gold futures are likely to open a tad higher on Wednesday morning, below its previous day's record, following similar trend in overseas market, though a stronger rupee could keep the upside in prices limited, analysts said.

* The most-active gold for October delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) last closed 1.8 percent lower at 27,969 rupees per 10 grams, reversing from an early record of 28,744 rupees.

* Overseas spot gold rebounded as much as 0.8 percent from a sharp slide off the record high in the previous session, as the metal's appeal remained undimmed to investors keen to seek safety during a period of heightened worry about the euro zone's debt crisis.

* The rupee rose in tandem with gains in domestic equities and most Asian currencies. The rupee plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the yellow metal and red metal, which is quoted in dollars.

COPPER

Copper futures are likely to open higher on Wednesday morning following global markets, although a strong rupee could weigh on the red metal later in the session, analysts said.

* The most-active copper for November delivery on the MCX closed 0.4 percent higher at 416.10 rupees per kg.

* London copper prices rose almost 1 percent to snap a three-day slide, as a series of labour disputes threatened output and helped offset persistent worries about the health of the global economy.