Closing Bell: Sensex Crashes Over 800 Points, Nifty Falls Below 12,000

Indian equity benchmark Sensex on Monday plunged about 807 points in line with massive sell-offs in global equities as spike in new coronavirus cases beyond China spooked investors. The 30-share BSE gauge settled at 40,363.23, dropping 806.89 points or 1.96 per cent. While, the broader NSE Nifty sank 251.45 points or 2.08 per cent to 11,829.40.

All Sensex components ended in the red, with Tata Steel cracking 6.39 per cent, followed by ONGC, Maruti, Titan, ICICI Bank, HDFC and Bharti Airtel. In a worrying sign for the global economy, the deadly coronavirus is fast spreading beyond China. South Korea went on high alert on Sunday following a sharp jump in coronavirus cases, and Italy and Iran took their own drastic containment steps.

Further, the IMF also warned that the deadly epidemic could put an already fragile global economy recovery at risk. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is the country’s “largest public health emergency”. The death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,592 in China on Monday.

Seoul stocks ended in deep red after South Korea reported 161 more coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the overall virus cases to 763 and making it the world’s largest total outside China. Bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong also closed with significant losses. Stock exchanges in Europe sank in opening trade with Milan’s FTSE MIB plunging over 4 per cent after Italy reported its fourth death from the virus as the number of people contracting the virus continued to mount.

Brent crude oil futures dropped 3.62 per cent to USD 55.84 per barrel. On the domestic front, investors were eyeing US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India for further cues on trade front. He reached Ahmedabad earlier in the day. On the currency front, the Indian rupee depreciated by 21 paise to 71.87 per US dollar (intra-day).

Bullion Market Closing: Gold Soars Rs 953 On Weaker Rupee

Gold prices on Monday soared Rs 953 to Rs 44,472 per 10 gram in the national capital on weaker rupee and rise in global prices, according to HDFC Securities. The yellow metal had closed at Rs 43,519 per 10 gram in the previous trading session. Silver prices also rose by Rs 586 to Rs 49,990 per kg from Rs 49,404 per kg.

“Gold prices continued upside with international spot gold prices opening higher on Monday, rallying above USD 1,680. Spot gold for 24 karat in Delhi rallied as much as Rs 953 on weaker rupee and strong international prices,” HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said.

The spot rupee was trading around 22 paise weaker against the dollar during the day, he added. The Indian rupee had declined by 30 paise to 71.94 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday amid muted opening in domestic equities and strengthening of the American currency overseas.

In the international market, both gold and silver were trading higher at USD 1,682 per ounce and USD 18.80 per ounce, respectively. “Gold prices have rallied after latest reports showing coronavirus has spread beyond China with rise in infections and deaths in South Korea, Middle East and Italy,” Patel added.

(With inputs from PTI)