Sensex down by over 450 points in early trade

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex plunged by over 450 points in early trade on Wednesday on heavy selling by funds triggered by a weakening global trend.

The 30-share Sensex nosedived by over 464.53 points at 12,518.45 in the first five minutes of trading.

In similar pattern of trading, the wide-based National Stocks Exchange index dropped by 147.55 points at 3,623 on the back of a steep fall in index-related shares particularly in constructions, cement and banking shares.