Mumbai

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty plunged about 1.5 per cent on Friday, taking their downtrend to the fifth straight session, due to risk aversion in the global markets after the hawkish stance of the US Federal Reserve.

An across-the-board selloff in equity markets amid unabated selling by foreign investors added to the pressure, traders said.

The 30-share BSE benchmark tumbled 1,176.46 points or 1.49 per cent to sink below the 79,000 mark to end at 78,041.59. During the day, it slumped 1,343.46 points or 1.69 per cent to 77,874.59.

The NSE Nifty tanked 364.20 points or 1.52 per cent to 23,587.50.

As many as 2,950 stocks declined, while 1,045 advanced and 90 remained unchanged on the BSE.

Investors became poorer by Rs 18.43 lakh crore in five days of the market crash as the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms eroded by Rs 18,43,121.27 crore to Rs 4,40,99,217.32 crore (USD 5.18 trillion).

"Disappointment regarding the slower-than-anticipated rate cuts by the US Fed has adversely affected global market sentiment. This bearish outlook is particularly impacting the domestic market, which is already contending with high valuations & low earnings growth. The sell-off has been widespread, with significant declines in mid and small-cap stocks, where valuations premiumisation is at a historical peak," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said.

In the past five days, the BSE benchmark tanked 4,091.53 points or 4.98 per cent, and the Nifty slumped 1,180.8 points or 4.76 per cent. 

From the 30 blue-chip Sensex pack, Tech Mahindra, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, UltraTech Cement and Reliance Industries were the biggest laggards.

In contrast, JSW Steel, Nestle and Titan were the gainers.

D-St investors lose 18.43L cr in five days of  market crash

Equity investors became poorer by Rs 18.43 lakh crore in five days of market crash as Sensex tanked 4,091 points, amid unabated foreign fund outflows and weak global trends. In the past five trading days, the BSE benchmark has tanked 4,091.53 points, or 4.98 per cent. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms eroded Rs 18,43,121.27 crore to Rs 4,40,99,217.32 crore (USD 5.18 trillion) in the last five days. "Nervousness continued to grip investors and stocks across-the-board went into a tailspin," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.