In their biggest drop in nearly six weeks, benchmark Sensex on Tuesday tumbled 161 points to 28,338.05 and Nifty index fell 67 points to 8,463.10 from record highs due to profit-booking and worries over new norms on P-Notes.
Shares of Realty, FMCG, Power, Metal, Consumer Durables, Banking, Capital Goods and Auto fell on heavy selling.
The BSE Sensex resumed higher at 28,520.76 and firmed up to 28,541.22. The gains proved to be short-lived as it dropped immediately to 28,217.50 before finally ending at 28,338.05, a loss of 161.49 points or 0.57 per cent. This was its biggest single-day loss since October 16 when it shed 350 points.
The Sensex had gained 466.69 points, or 1.66 per cent, in the previous three trading sessions.
Similarly, the CNX 50-share Nifty moved down by 67.05 points, or 0.79 per cent, to finish at 8,463.10 after hitting all-time high of 8,535.35 in the early trade.
Amid concerns about possible misuse of Offshore Derivative Instruments, or P-Notes, for money laundering and other such purposes, Sebi directed foreign investors to ensure compliance with all necessary norms before issuing such notes with immediate effect. This, some market analysts, said hurt sentiments.
“Correction in markets could (also) be attributed to profit booking from retail investors and due to some stock specific news. Among day’s major market moving events, ITC was down by more than 5 per cent intraday after on reports government has accepted the recommendation of ban of loose cigarettes,” said Hiren Dhakan, Associate Fund Manager, Bonanza Portfolio.
The market may remain volatile this week as traders said participants are rolling over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from November to December 2014 series.
Asian stocks ended mixed as key benchmark indices in Hong Kong and Taiwan fell by 0.07 per cent to 0.21 per cent while indices in China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea rose by 0.08 per cent to 1.37 per cent.
European markets were also trading higher after latest data showed Germany’s GDP rose 0.1 per cent in third quarter. Key benchmark indices in Germany, France and UK rose by 0.11 per cent to 0.73 per cent.
“It seems lack of broader participation is raising doubts among the investors & traders and that in turn triggering profit taking with every rise. We believe the situation will improve post F&O expiry…,” said Jayant Manglik, President-retail distribution, Religare Securities.
Fifteen scrips out of the 30-share Sensex pack ended higher while the remaining 15 closed lower.
Major index losers were ITC (4.99 per cent), Tata Steel (2.56 per cent), ICICI Bank (2.02 per cent), NTPC (1.96 per cent), L&T (1.93 per cent), Tata Power (1.74 per cent), Maruti (1.69 per cent), Axis Bank (1.65 per cent), Hero Motocorp (1.28 per cent), SBI (1.15 per cent), Tata Motors (1.11 per cent) and Bajaj Auto (1.10 per cent).
However, BHEL rose by 2.95 per cent, HUL 1.97 per cent, ONGC 1.34 per cent, Dr Reddy’s Lab 1.24 per cent, Bharti Airtel 1.13 per cent, Cipla 1.00 per cent and HDFC 0.92 per cent.
