Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Friday plunged by 260 points to close at nearly four-week low of 25,329.14, tracking global sell-off sparked by escalating geopolitical tensions after US President Barack Obama authorised targeted air strikes in Iraq.
Adding to the worry of global investors, Russian President Vladimir Putin went on retaliatory measures by banning food imports from Western countries. Russia faces sanctions imposed by the US and European countries.
Brokers said the sentiment was also hit by the rupee slumping to five-month low of 61.74 (intra-day) against the US dollar with global crude prices shooting up.
Jayant Manglik, President, Retail Distribution, Religare Securities said: "Investors were also cautious after Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan warned that global markets are at the risk of a crash due to the lingering competitive loose monetary policies being followed by the developed economies."
After opening lower by over 180 points, the 30-share Sensex at one point was down over 350 points before ending the day at almost four week low of 25,329.14 --a level not seen since July 15--registering a steep loss of 259.87 points or 1.02 percent.
In straight three days, the key index has plunged by 578.87 points or 2.23 percent.
American President Barack Obama yesterday said that he has authorised targeted air strikes against militants in Iraq, key crude producer. The development is widely will further stoke up the global oil prices.
India imports 80 percent crude oil of its requirements and it will be a big jolt to the country's economy, ultimately affecting the current account deficit.
"Global markets closed in the negative for the week on the back of geopolitical tensions. The US authorising targeted air strikes on Iraq was the latest trigger. There was growing unease over the crisis in Ukraine.
"Indian markets were not insulated from the sell-off in global markets as it signed off the week in the negative zone...." said Sanjeev Zarbade, Vice President, Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities.
The broader 50-issue NSE Nifty also stumbled by 80.70 points or 1.06 percent to end below 7,600-mark at 7,568.55. Previously, it had finished at 7,526.65 on July 15, 2014.
Ten out of 12 sectoral indices closed weak between 0.29 percent and 3.86 percent with realty, metal, power, consumer goods, consumer durables, Bankex and Auto taking the lead in the downslide. Only select defensive shares from pharma and FMCG segments closed with small gains.
In Asian, key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea ended lower by 0.23 percent to 2.98 percent while China closed up by 0.31 percent.
European markets were also trading lower as indices in France, Germany and UK moved down by 0.57-1.08 percent.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 73.07 crores yesterday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 24 ended with losses while only six finished with gains.
Major losers were SSLT (5.71 percent), Tata Power (3.79 percent), BHEL (3.74 percent), Tata Steel (3.22 percent), Gail India (2.85 percent), Hindalco (2.75 percent), Larsen (2.63 percent), Axis Bank (2.60 percent), Coal India (2.12 percent), NTPC (2.09 percent), Tata Motors (2.07 percent), HDFC Bank (1.91 percent) and ONGC (1.56 percent).
However, Bharti Airtel firmed up by 2.09 percent.
Among the BSE sectoral indices, realty fell by 3.86 percent, followed by Metal 3.15 percent, Power 2.92 percent, Capital Goods 2.50 percent, Consumer Durable 1.62 percent, Auto 1.36 percent and Bankex 1.51 percent.
Market breadth remained negative as 2,074 stocks closed in the red, 826 stocks finished in the green while 99 ruled steady. Total turnover dropped further to Rs 2,479.34 crore from Rs 2,680.64 crore yesterday.
