Sensex dips below 16k level, tanks 290 pts in opening trade

Also, today being the last session of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, squaring-up of positions by market players further dampened the trading sentiment. The 30-share index fell by 289.66 points to trade below 16,000 points level at 15,993.83 points in opening trade. The level last seen on September 7. The Sensex had lost over 527 points in the past three sessions.

The wide-based NSE index Nifty too dipped below 4,800 points. It was trading 87.75 points down at 4,738.40 points. Brokers said continued profit-taking by funds and investors, driven by overnight losses in the US markets after a disappointing consumer confidence report and weak trend in early trade on other Asian bourses also cast their shadows on the trading sentiment here.

Besides, squaring-up of pending outstanding positions on the last day of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment also dragged stocks down, they said. Shares of RIL traded 1.15 per cent down at Rs 2,012.25, and Infosys by 2.03 per cent to Rs 2,211. Meanwhile, the the Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 2.50 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.21 per cent down on Wednesday.