Sensex slumps 774 points to settle at 60,205, Nifty ends in red at 17,892

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tanked more than 1 per cent on Wednesday due to heavy selling in IT, financial and oil shares amid mixed global trends.

The 30-share BSE barometer plunged by 773.69 points or 1.27 per cent to 60,205.06 as 22 of its scrips declined while eight advanced. The index opened lower and later fell by nearly 900 points during the day to touch a low of 60,081.36.

The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange declined sharply by 226.35 points or 1.25 per cent to close below the 18,000 level at 17,891.95.

Among Sensex stocks, SBI, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC, Tech Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Ultratech Cement, L&T, Bajaj Finserv, Reliance, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, Wipro and M&M were the major losers.

On the other hand, HUL advanced the most by 1.14 per cent. Maruti, Tata Steel, NTPC and Sun Pharma also posted gains.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said, “Indian equities witnessed a significant sell-off as the market appeared apprehensive ahead of the upcoming Union Budget and Fed meeting next week. Sentiments were dampened by persistent FII selling, where funds are being shifted to other EMs as a result of attractive valuations”.

“Furthermore, a weak economic growth outlook that stoked recession fears pulled down global markets.”

Asian markets were mixed after US stocks finished little changed. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.4 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.4 per cent while markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.

European shares were also mixed with stock indices trading lower in Germany and France, while Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.1 per cent.

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, declined by 0.31 per cent to USD 85.86 per barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market on Tuesday as they sold shares worth ₹760.51 crore, according to exchange data.