By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday ended trade 538 points lower as selling sentiment spread throughout the market.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,708.6 points, shut shop at 16,242.3 points (provisional), down 538.16 points or 3.21 percent from its previous close at 16,780.46 points.
Heavyweight scrips ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, SBI and RIL were the main contributors to the Sensex’s drag.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty too ended in the red at 4,837.15 points, against the previous close at 5,007.9 points, a loss of 3.41 percent or 170.75 points.
Mid-to-small cap scrips saw heavier selling, with the BSE midcap index ending 4.32 percent down and the BSE small cap index 5.49 percent lower.
Realty, metals, auto, and banking scrips were among the biggest losers as downward pressure prevailed in major Europe and Asian markets.