Sensex tanks more than 500 points amid weak global cues, sinking rupee

The BSE benchmark Sensex cracked over 500 points in early session on Thursday as rupee hit another low amid weak global cues and fears of widening current account of deficit. The international benchmark Brent crude breached the US 86 per barrel level, nearing its four-year high.

The BSE 30-share barometer tumbled 527.94 points, or 1.39 per cent, to 35,447.69 in early trade with most of the sectoral indices trading in the negative zone.

The laggards include Reliance Industries, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Bharti Airtel, HDFC, Infosys, Coal India, SBI, HDFC Bank, M&M, IndusInd Bank, Adani Ports, Axis Bank, NTPC, and PowerGrid, falling up to 4.75 per cent.

The gauge had lost nearly 550 points in the previous session Wednesday.

The NSE Nifty index too fell 164.60 points, or 1.53 per cent, to 10,693.65.

Brokers said weakness was seen in most Asian markets as high US yield and good economic data led to fear that investors would move to the US, dampened trading sentiments here. The rupee's plunge to a new record low of 73.77 against the dollar by falling 44 paise in early trade, too, weighed on investor mood.

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu will hold an inter-ministerial meeting later in the day to discuss trade deficit and its impact on rupee as well as ways to boost exports, an official told PTI.

Representatives from the department of economic affairs, coal ministry, steel ministry, oil ministry and department of pharmaceuticals are expected to attend the meeting.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 1,550 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) made purchases to the tune of Rs 1,402 crore Wednesday.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan were trading sharply lower by falling over 1 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended 0.20 per cent higher Wednesday.

Fuel prices also saw a steep rise in many parts of the country today, burning a hole in the common man's pocket.

Continuing the upward trend, petrol price in the national capital witnessed a fresh hike of 15 paise and is being sold at Rs 84 per litre. The cost of diesel was also hiked by 20 paise with the price per litre reaching Rs 75.45.

In Mumbai, petrol is being retailed at Rs 91.32 a litre and diesel at Rs 80.10 per litre after being hiked by 14 paise and 21 paise, respectively.