Sensex, Nifty volatile; Bharti Airtel plunges 8 per cent, Zensar Technologies zooms 9 per cent

On Wednesday, the domestic markets remained volatile ahead of Thursday’s expiry. Sensex closed down by 65.66 points or 0.17 per cent at 37,668.42 levels while Nifty closed down by 0.20 per cent or 21.80 points at 11,131.85 levels.

Selling was seen in realty, pharma, and metal stocks.

Crude oil prices declined after it was reported that crude oil inventories rose by 6,91,000 barrels against the expected drop of 2.256 million barrels. Crude oil prices may remain under pressure, following a potential resumption of oil supply from Libya.  

Gold prices continued to fall with the reasons being the rally in the dollar index and uncertainty over the next stimulus package by the US government, which will aid in reviving the slowing growth rate.

Sensex gainers consisted of Axis Bank that went up by 1.82 per cent, HUL increased by 1.27 per cent, Infosys rose by 1.24 per cent, HDFC Bank gained by 1.11 per cent, Nestle India gained by 1.05 per cent, etc.

Sensex losers included Bharti Airtel, which went down by 7.89 per cent, Tata Steel fell by 3.46 per cent, IndusInd Bank decreased by 3.10 per cent, NTPC fell by 3.02 per cent, Power Grid declined by 2.85 per cent, ONGC fell by 2.66 per cent, etc.

Meanwhile, BSE Telecom index was the biggest loser amongst sectoral indices on BSE, plunging by 7.72 per cent.