Sensex closes down 224 pts, Nifty sheds over 1%, IT rally arrests the slide

The benchmark BSE Sensex fell from it record highs today tracking Asian peers and weak global stocks. The BSE Sensex, lost 223.98 points or 0.73% at 30,434.79, while the Nifty50 index was down 96.30 points or 1.01% at 9,429.45, as per closing data.

The broad market showed weakness. There were almost 3 losers against every gainer on BSE. 2,043 shares declined, 702 shares advanced and a total of 165 shares were unchanged.

Realty sector stocks declined sharply, led by index heavyweights ITC, RIL and L&T. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries dropped 1.87 percent to Rs 1,327.00. The stock hit a high and low of Rs 1,352 and Rs 1,323.30 respectively.

Shares of Bajaj Auto lost 2.54 % after its net profit dipped 13.44% to Rs 862.25 Cr, on 8.7 percent decline in total revenue from operations to Rs 5,212.83 Cr, in Q4 March 2017 year on year.

Apollo Hospitals shares fell about 2.66%. United Breweries Ltd, Kingfisher Breweries, dropped 4.8% after announcing an 87% fall in profit for the March-quarter. European and Asian stocks edged lower as concerns over the fallout from chaos in Washington prompted investors to unload risky assets such as equities.