As global markets weaken and oil prices soar amid Ukraine crisis, equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 3 per cent in opening trade on Monday.
The 30-share BSE Sensex, extending its downtrend for the fourth straight session on Monday, opened on a weak note and slumped 1,620.73 points or 2.98 per cent to 52,713.08.
The broader NSE Nifty, similary, fell by 447.05 points or 2.75 per cent and slipped below the 16,000 level to 15,798.30.
Sensex plunged 1,453.51 points to 52,880.30 in opening trade, while Nifty tanked over 400 points to 15,831.85.
Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro and ICICI Bank, from the 30-share pack, were the biggest drag, falling down to 6.3 per cent.
In previous trade, down by 768.87 points or 1.40 per cent, the 30-share BSE benchmark ended at 54,333.81.
The NSE Nifty slumped 252.70 points or 1.53 per cent to end at 16,245.35.
Stock markets in ong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo were trading significantly lower in mid-session deals. While on Friday, stock exchanges in the US closed in the negative zone.
Amid this turmoil, international oil benchmark Brent crude surged 8.84 per cent to USD 128.6 a barrel.
As per the exchange data, foreign institutional investors continued their selling spree in Indian markets as they offloaded shares worth Rs 7,631.02 crore on a net basis on Friday.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
