The benchmark Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange lost 229 points, or 1.2%, on Monday to close at 18,709 points, its lowest in 10 days, on global concerns and profit booking.
“The investors are focusing on the outcome of the euro zone finance ministers’ meeting later in the day,” said Alex Mathew, head, research, Geojit BNP Paribas. “The European markets were also trading lower as the growing concerns over the economic outlook and ahead of the corporate earnings season.”
Realty, oil and gas and consumer durables stock were down by 3.5%, 2.8% and 2.7% respectively. Health care was the only sector that registered some gains with a 1.2% rise. On Monday, 1,380 stocks were up, while 1,505 stocks declined on the BSE.
DLF, United Spirits, Bajaj Finsery, Pantaloon Retail and RIL were the biggest losers and were down by 7.2%, 6.3%, 5.9%, 4.9% and 4.5% respectively.
The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was down 71 points, or 1.2%, to close at 5,676.