The 30-share pack Sensex ended 487.43 points or 0.95 per cent lower at 50,792.08. The index gyrated 1,283.41 points in a highly volatile session. Its broader peer NSE Nifty settled at 15,030.95, down 143.85 points or 0.95 per cent.
Broader market indices also cooled off but managed to perform better than their headline peers. The BSE Midcap index fell -0.45 per cent, and the SmallCap gauge rose 0.14 per cent. Fear gauge India VIX spiked 4.62 per cent.
All sectoral indices on NSE also closed with cuts, led by banking and financial services, especially PSU lenders. Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, HDFC twins and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the biggest drags on the indices.
Here are key factors affecting the market:
Maharashtra lockdown
Maharashtra has been recording a substantial rise in coronavirus cases of late, with the authorities attributing it to crowding witnessed during the gram panchayat elections as the major reason. Not only Mumbai, Pune and Thane, but several cities and towns in Maharashtra, including Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, have been witnessing a spike in cases. Lockdown or restrictions have been imposed in several cities or districts in the state in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
Weak European markets
European markets were trading lower at the last count. London-based FTSE was down 0.17 per cent while Paris and Frankfurt declined 0.05 per cent and 0.51 per cent, respectively. S&P 500 futures were also trading down 0.61 per cent. In Asia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand closed in the red while the rest registered gains.
