Sensex dips below 20k level, tanks 233 pts in opening trade

The benchmark BSE Sensex today dipped below psychological 20,000-level by falling nearly 233 points in opening trade following weak global trends after disappointing US factory data.

The 30-share barometer fell by 232.88 points, or 1.15 per cent, to trade below 20,000-level at 19,976.38. The index had lost 304.59 points in the previous session.

All the sectoral indices led by realty, IT and metal were major losers, dragging down the benchmark Sensex.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dipped below 6,000-mark by falling 59.80 points, or 1.00 per cent, to 5,942.00.

Brokers said sustained selling by funds in the absence of any positive factor and a slump in other Asian bourses following overnight losses on the US market on disappointing manufacturing data mainly dampened the trading sentiment here.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged 2.31 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index fell 2.62 per cent, in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 2.08 per cent down in yesterday's trade.