Broader indices fall 2%; Nifty Metal skids 6% on global growth concerns
Indian equities fell in-line with global stocks after minutes released by the US Federal Reserve suggested tapering of the Fed’s stimulus plan by late 2021. Besides, rampant spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 and faltering global growth worried investors.
The 30-share Sensex index declined 300 points, or 0.4 per cent, and closed at 55,329 levels on Friday while the Nifty50 index ended at 16,451 levels, down 118 points or 0.7 per cent. Both the indices had hit intra-day lows of 55,014 and 16,376, respectively, earlier today.
The broader markets, meanwhile, were hit harder by the selloff as both, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices fell 2 per cent each. The advance to decline ratio favoured sellers and India VIX — the volatility index — surged 8.6 per cent.
Sectorally, the Nifty Metal index cracked 6 per cent while the FMCG index rose 2 per cent.