Sensex Plummets Over 2,100 Points, Nifty Below 7,900 Amid Global Gloom Over Coronavirus Pandemic

Mumbai: As global gloom over the Covid-19 pandemic continued to hammer equities, stock markets on Thursday opened with a massive nearly 7 per cent fall in the key indices. Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 2,100 points and the Nifty gave up the 7,900 level in the opening session on Thursday.

The rupee too depreciated 60 paise to 74.87 against US dollar in the morning session.

After sinking over 2,152 points, the BSE barometer was trading 1812.19 points or 6.28 per cent lower at 27,057.32 at 0930 hours.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty was trading 520.85 points, or 6.15 per cent, down at 7,947.95 after dropping below 7,900 in early session.

In the previous session, the 30-share BSE index closed 1,709.58 points or 5.59 per cent lower at 28,869.51. On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty plummeted 498.25 points, or 5.56 per cent, to end at 8,468.80.

Meanwhile, Brent crude oil futures rose over 1.61 per cent to USD 25.28 per barrel.

The number of global Covid-19 infections has shot past 2,00,000. Worldwide fatalities topped 8,000.

Cases in India rose to 169 on Thursday after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry.

(With agency inputs)