Mumbai, Jan 6
The Indian stock market witnessed a steep decline on Monday as domestic benchmark indices plunged more than 1.5 per cent amid growing concerns over human metapneumovirus (HMPV) along with global uncertainties.
Heavy selling was seen in the PSU bank sector on Nifty. The PSU bank sector was down by more than 4 per cent. Apart from this, the realty, metal, energy, PSE, and commodities sectors also fell by more than 3 per cent.
Sensex ended at 77,964.99, down 1,258.12 points or 1.59 per cent and Nifty settled at 23,616.05 down 388.70 points or 1.62 per cent. The intraday low of Sensex was 77,781.62, while the intraday low of Nifty was 23,551.90.
Nifty Bank ended at 49,922 down by 1,066.80 points, or 2.09 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 100 index closed at 56,366.9 after declining 1,564.10 points, or 2.70 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index closed at 18,425.25 after declining 608.45 points, or 3.20 per cent.
According to market experts, the primary catalyst for a sharp sell-off in the domestic market appears to be concerns over the HMPV.