Closing Bell: Sensex ends nearly 300 points lower, Nifty also loses 88 points

Benchmark Sensex plunged 297 points on Thursday, led by losses in index heavyweights Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank amid expiry of December derivatives contracts. After falling 328.37 points during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 297.50 points, or 0.72 per cent, lower at 41,163.76. It hit an intra-day low of 41,132.89.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty closed 88 points, or 0.72 per cent, down at 12,126.55. Bharti Airtel was the top loser in the Sensex pack, dropping 2.23 per cent, followed by Reliance Industries, L&T, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, Maruti, Titan and Kotak Bank. On the other hand, ONGC, NTPC, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance and M&M rose up to 1.63 per cent.

In the previous session, the 30-share gauge ended 181.40 points, or 0.44 per cent, lower at 41,461.26. Similarly, the Nifty closed 48.20 points, or 0.39 per cent, down at 12,214.55.

Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 114.38 crore, and domestic institutional investors offloaded shares worth Rs 345.22 crore on Tuesday, data available with stock exchange showed. According to traders, market has turned volatile ahead of the expiry of December futures and options (F&O) contracts.

According to traders, market turned volatile on expiry of December futures and options (F&O) contracts. Further, investor participation has also thinned on account of year-end holidays in domestic and global markets, they said. Bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul ended on a positive note.

On the currency front, the rupee was flat against the US dollar at 71.27 (intra-day). Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.33 per cent to USD 67.42 per barrel.