Sensex plunges 221 pts, Nifty drops below 9,200-mark

Mumbai: Benchmark Sensex tanked 221 points to close at one-week low of 29,706.61, while the Nifty ended below the 9,200-mark on Friday after US air strikes on Syria roiled global markets.

 US launched a massive strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation to a chemical attack on civilians, stoking fears of a geopolitical flare-up. Profit-booking by participants in view of the domestic markets’ recent record-setting run also fuelled the downtrend, brokers said.

The 30-share Sensex stayed in the negative zone for the whole day and settled lower by 220.73 points, or 0.74 per cent, at 29,706.61. This is its lowest level since March 31, when it had closed at 29,620.50. The gauge had lost 46.90 points in the previous session after the Reserve Bank left the key policy rate unchanged, in line with Street expectations.

The broader Nifty too succumbed to selling pressure and slipped below the 9,200-mark to hit a low of 9,188.10, before ending at 9,198.30, down 63.65 points, or 0.69 per cent.

However, the Sensex and Nifty recorded their second straight weekly gain by rising 86.11 points, or 0.29 per cent, and 24.55 points, or 0.26 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the rupee on Friday soared to a 20-month high of 64.17 (intra-day) against the dollar, its highest since August 11, 2015 amid buoyant growth outlook by the Reserve Bank in its monetary policy review on Thursday.

“Risk appetite took a hit after geopolitical tensions pulled global equities down. Soaring oil prices and continuing strength in rupee also distorted the usual sectoral diversification themes,” said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services Ltd.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 142.68 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 205.64 crore on Thursday, as per provisional data.

 Sun Pharma was the top Sensex loser, skidding 3.04 per cent to close at Rs 665.65, followed by Lupin, which fell 2.61 per cent to Rs 1,410.35.

 Shares of Reliance Industries plunged 2.28 per cent to end the day at Rs 1,405.55 after telecom regulator Trai on Thursday ordered Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio to withdraw the three-month ‘complimentary’ offer of unlimited data usage and free calls on payment of a minimum Rs 303.

Other losers included Adani Ports, Dr Reddy’s, Infosys, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, HUL, SBI, Axis Bank, Tata Motors, Power Grid, Asian Paints and M&M, falling by up to 2.37 per cent. On the other hand, TCS, Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC and L&T closed higher by up to 1.14 per cent.

Sector-wise, the BSE healthcare index fell the most (1.43 per cent), followed by metal (1.24 per cent), realty (1.19 per cent), bank (0.96 per cent), power (0.63 per cent) and consumer durables (0.63 per cent). Oil and gas rose 0.48 per cent and capital goods gained 0.10 per cent.

The broader markets too fell as investors locked in gains. (PTI)