Sensex plunges below 18,000

Selling pressure built up late at Indian equities markets, pushing a benchmark index 251 points down today. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange, which opened at 18,205.9 points, closed at 17,974.4 points (provisional).

Selling pressure built up late at Indian equities markets, pushing a benchmark index 251 points down on Friday.

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The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,205.9 points, closed at 17,974.4 points (provisional), 251.95 points or 1.38 per cent down from its previous close at 18,226.35 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop 1.47 per cent in the red at 5,397.25 points.

Broader markets indices also gave up earlier gains. The BSE midcap index ended 1.1 per cent down and the BSE smallcap index closed 1.49 per cent lower.

Realty, IT, banking and telecom scrips were on the losing side.