Markets Highlights: Sensex closes below 29,000 mark for 1st time in 3 years, Nifty below 8,600

Sensex closes at 28869.51 pts down by 1709 pts, closing below the 29,000 mark for the first time in 3 years while Nifty closed at 8541 pts. Earlier in the morning, Sensex opened nearly 400 points higher than yesterday's close while Nifty was at 9,088 at pre-open. Vodafone Idea closed at 3.15 down by -35.05% and Yes Bank gained 3%. Thanks for tuning in to the Markets Live blog.

Nifty closes at 8541.50 pts down by -425.55

Sensex closes below 29,000-mark for first time in 3 years

Nifty drops below 8500 pts, Sensex down by 1918.78 pts

Nifty hovers around 8600 and Sensex stagnates around 29200

Nifty tanks to 8616.60 pts down by 350.45 pts

Sensex down by 1217.41 pts to 29361.68 pts

After a steep downward curve in March, Indian markets are at a level last seen three years ago.

Rs 5 lakh crore of investor wealth wiped off, as markets tank beyond the expectations of most analysts on Dalal Street

European markets, rupee extend losses

Sell off restarts in markets as European markets open. Sensex down 1,365 points.
Nifty down by 420
As foreign fund sell-off intensifies with Europe daybreak, rupee loses 9 paise over previous close, and 41 paise intraday. Trading precariously close to all time low 74.48.

Sensex's downward spiral continues. Sensex now at 29,251.31 down by 1327.78 points,

Sensex pares losses. Now at 29,564.78, down 1014.31 pts or 3.32%

Seesaw run of Sensex continues. It is now at 29,281.87, down by 1,297.22 points or 4.24%

The worst-hit stock has been the IndusInd Bank. After crashing by 37% in the intraday, the stock rebounds and is trading at loss 27%. (DHNS)

The sell of intensifies despite the stimulus package announced by White House. The US Treasury announced it would dole out a massive stimulus package that could range between $850 billion to $1.2 trillion. This would include direct cash transfers to consumers, loans to small businesses, an extension of tax deadlines and sops for the airline industry. (DHNS)

We argue that COVID-19 presents an opportunity to implement some long-pending structural changes in the country, which would go a long way in improving our economic strength, says Motilal Oswal in a research note.(DHNS)

Tokyo's key Nikkei index gave up early gains and closed lower on Wednesday, dragged down by SoftBank Group and other heavyweights.

The Nikkei 225 fell 1.68 percent, or 284.98 points, to 16,726.55 while the broader Topix index closed up 0.19 percent, or 2.38 points, at 1,270.84. (AFP)

Rupee now pars gains of 32 paise it had made in morning as foreign fund selloff intensifies. Now trading flat. (DHNS)

Investor loss inches towards Rs 4 lakh crore today. Total hit due to the Coronavirus now tops Rs 45 lakh crore.
All APAC indices in red now, except for Singapore. The worse hit are Australian, Pakistani and Indian indices.
With European markets, which are worst hit by Coronavirus spread, opening in sometime, selling is likely to intensify after 1400 hours IST. (DHNS)

India VIX, that measures volatility in Indian shares, surges 1.6% as markets tank. Total year to date surge of whopping 447.99% as bears grip the markets. (DHNS)

The fall of Sensex continues. It is currently at 29,509.23, down by 1,069.86 points or 3.50%.

Sensex at 29,720.33 down by 858.76 or 2.81%

Markets trading at a 36-month low.
Investor loss during the daysurges to Rs 3 lakh crore, as foreign funds pull out heavily from India

Sensex at 29,859.53, falls by 719.56 points

Loss to investors stands at Rs 2 lakh crore

A negative market sentiment overruled opening gains, for each gain in any share, there are three declines

Sensex at 29,995.55, down 583.54 at 11:18

Sensex at 30,090.91 down by 488.18 pts in choppy trade

Sensex at 30,374.42, recovering slightly, down by 204.67 pts

Other Asia-Pacific Markets that are trading in red: Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Pakistan

Sensex tests 29,980.45 level before partially recovering

IndusInd Bank continues to be the top loser on BSE Sensex. The bank's shares have collapsed 47.11% since the the fall of Yes Bank on March 5.

At 10: 20 Sensex precariously close to going below 30,000, down 551.34 pts

Sensex at 30,068 down by 510 pts

Rupee partially pares its morning gains, trends suggest an outflow from foreign funds based out of far Eastern countries

Sensex at 30,184.23, down 394.86 pts or 1.29%

Sensex at 30,202.94, down by 376.15 pts or 1.23%

Yes Bank, Zee, Pharma top gainers

By Tuesday afternoon, rupee had pared all its losses and closed lower by 3 paise, as foreign funds withdrew Rs 4,044.69 crore from Indian markets.
In this month, amid global equity meltdown, foreign funds have already pulled out record Rs 38,188.92 crore (about $5.5 billion) from the Indian markets. This is already about Rs 9,000 crore more than the second highest selling spree by foreign funds in January 2008.

Oil steadies after hitting four-year low

Brent crude continues trading$30 level,trading at $29.11 per barrel

Indian rupee opens higher

The Indian rupee opened higher by 26 paise at 73.98 per dollar on Wednesday against Tuesday close of 74.24,currently trading with gains of 33 paise

Markets at pre-open: Sensex, Nifty both up by over 1.2%