Stocks reeled under huge losses on Thursday as the benchmark Sensex plunged sharply by over 465 points, the biggest single-day fall in three months, after India carried out "surgical strikes" on Wednesday night on terror launch pads across the Line of Control.
The restraint on part of investors was chiefly because of RBI's minutes of its December policy meeting, which showed that some members were concerned about rising oil prices, its inflationary impact and possibility of fiscal slippage.
The broader NSE Nifty scaled a high of 10,856.55 before closing up by 55.90 points, or 0.52 per cent
The broader NSE Nifty closed 1.25 points, or 0.01 per cent down at 10,564.05.
The fall came on the back of a massive selloff in NBFCs, led by DHFL which skidded over 50 per cent on fears of a liquidity crisis.
Investors booked profits in recent gainers
The trend was visible in the early trade on Thursday as investors indulged in trimming their bets after the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's September meeting indicated a possible rate hike this year.
Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 22 ended with losses while NTPC ended flat at Rs 127.30.
Coal India fell the most by 2.58 per cent among Sensex scrips, dragging the index into the negative zone.
Yes Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, surging 3.76 per cent, followed by SBI at 3.18 per cent.
The 50-share NSE Nifty too closed down 168.30 points, or 1.58 per cent, at 10,498.25 -- a level last seen on January 3 when it closed at 10,443.20.
This is its biggest single session fall since August 24, 2015, when it had lost 1,624.51 points.
The NSE Nifty too ended 58.60 points, or 0.54 per cent, higher at 10,967.30 after shuttling between 10,985.15 and 10,928 during the session.
FMCG major ITC and private banking major ICICI Bank were the top Sensex losers
Small- and mid-cap stocks continued facing selling pressure due to stretched valuations.
The broader NSE Nifty index too finished lower by 4.80 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 10,632.20.
Coal India was the biggest gainer on both Sensex and Nifty
Sun Pharma was the biggest gainer in the Sensex pack, advancing 1.79 per cent.
The broader Nifty too fell for the second straight session and closed with a loss of over 62 points, or 0.54 per cent, at 11,520.30, after hovering between 11,496.85 and 11,602.55.
The broader NSE Nifty closed below the 10,600 mark by plunging 98.15 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 11,582.35 after shuttling between 11,567.40 and 11,751.80.
The wider NSE Nifty touched a low of 10,652.40 before finishing at 10,671.40, showing a loss of 97.75 points, or 0.91 per cent.
The NSE Nifty cracked below the 10,800-mark to hit a low of 10,753.05 intra-day, before closing at 10,762.45 with a loss of 59.40 points, or 0.55 per cent.
The NSE Nifty, which dipped below the key 10,800-mark to touch a low of 10,755.40, bounced back on late buying to close at 10,817.70, up 9.65 points, or 0.09 per cent.
The broader NSE Nifty, after cracking below the key 10,300-mark, touched a low of 10,211.25, before finally ending 134.75 points, or 1.30 per cent, down at 10,226.55.
Sensex ended up 190 points at 25,519 and Nifty climbed 57 points to end at 7,626.
A strong set of industrial output numbers for January provided the perfect backdrop to reap more dividends, with the IIP having expanded 2.7 per cent year-on-year.
A mixed global trend and weakness in rupee influenced the sentiments during the day.
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Notable losers were ONGC, Axis Bank, ITC, SBI, ICICI Bank, NTPC, Hero Motocorp, Sun Pharma and Bharti Airtel who fell by up to 2.80 per cent.
The Nifty rose 176.50 points, or 1.74 per cent, during the week.
'It is easy to dramatise the events of today, but it is far more important to focus on the fact that we have a radically overvalued financial sector. It is a house of cards.'
In the longest losing streak of 2017, the BSE Sensex has lost 1,270 points, or 3.91 per cent. It fell to a three-month low of 31,154.03 on Wednesday.
The broader NSE Nifty too reclaimed the key 11,500-mark. It touched a high of 11,562.25, before finally settling at 11,536.90, showing a gain of 59.95 points, or 0.52 per cent.
The Sensex has now lost 878.32 points in six sessions -- its longest string of losses in six months.
Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 21 ended lower and one remained unchanged
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The NSE Nifty settled the day 38.85 points or 0.37 per cent lower at 10,500.90 after shuttling between 10,590.55 and 10,456.65, intra-day.
The NSE Nifty too recovered over 100 points, or 0.96 per cent, to end at 10,576.85.
Sentiments took a hit after broader Asian markets weakened, following a renewed sell-off on Wall Street on Tuesday as energy shares dropped after crude oil prices plunged to a 13-month low amid weak earnings and US-China trade disputes, fuelling worries about economic growth
Traders said falling crude prices in the global market was a big boost for the economy as it lightens the country's import bill burden, eases inflation and current account deficit concerns.
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