Sensex tanks 740 factors amid March F&O expiry; Nifty sinks under 14,400-mark

Equity benchmark Sensex plunged 740 factors on Thursday, dragged by losses in index majors Reliance Industries, Infosys and HDFC Bank as month-to-month derivatives expired amid weak cues from international markets.
The 30-share BSE index ended 740.19 factors or 1.51 per cent decrease at 48,440.12, and the broader NSE Nifty declined 224.50 factors or 1.54 per cent to 14,324.90.
Maruti was the highest loser within the Sensex pack, shedding round 4 per cent, adopted by Bharti Airtel, HUL, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, ONGC and Reliance Industries.

On the opposite hand, Dr Reddy’s, ICICI Bank, L&T and HDFC have been the gainers.
Domestic equities fell as prevailing issues on the subject of sharp rise in COVID-19 circumstances have clearly dented traders’ sentiments, stated Binod Modi, Head – Strategy at Reliance Securities.
Barring financials and metals, all key sectoral indices led to pink.
Further, futures and choices (F&O) expiry issue additionally contributed to volatility, he famous, including that market capitalisation of home market slipped under Rs 200 trillion first time after February 3, 2021, leading to wealth erosion of over Rs 5 trillion in final two days.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai and Hong Kong have been within the pink, whereas Tokyo and Seoul ended on a optimistic notice.

Stock exchanges in Europe have been buying and selling with losses in mid-session offers.
Meanwhile, the worldwide oil benchmark Brent crude was buying and selling 1.35 per cent decrease at USD 63.54 per barrel.