The Sensex plunged 388 points on Thursday as participants booked gains recorded in the previous session amid a
subdued trend on other bourses. Investor sentiment was ruled by a weak opening in world markets as concerns grew about euro debt crisis.
The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark, which
closed 71.73 points higher in the previous session, lost 388.82 points, or 2.30 per cent, to 16,488.24. The index also hit an intra-day low of 16,453.79, losing 423.27 points.
HOW THE MARKETS FARED In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index ended below 5,000-mark, shedding 118.95 points, or 2.35 per cent, to 4,943.65.
SPECIAL: Stocks that held strong amid sell-off Brokers said apart from profit-booking by participants, the government's decision to
suspend foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail dampened the trading sentiment.
Market experts also said subdued trend in world stocks along with a drubbing of Asian stocks earlier in the day also contributed to the investor sentiment. Market leaders say the summit of European leaders on Friday is seen as the last chance for the European Union to end a crippling debt crisis before it drags the region into a
potentially severe recession.
Benchmark oil rose above $100 per barrel while the dollar fell against the euro and the yen.
Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.6 per cent to 5,582.63. Germany's DAX jumped 1.1 per cent to 6,061.80 and France's CAC-40 was 0.9 per cent higher at 3,205.60.
Wall Street appeared headed for a mixed opening. Dow Jones industrial futures rose marginally to 12,218 while S&P 500 futures were down less than 0.1 per cent at 1,263.50.
Stocks endured a minor drubbing in Asia earlier in the day. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.7 per cent to 8,664.58, dragged down by weaker-than-expected machinery orders. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.4 per cent to 1,912.39 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.7 per cent to 19,107.81.
Special 
