NEW DELHI: Equity indices fell on Thursday with the benchmark BSE sensex sliding over 300 points led by losses in financial stocks. Sensex plunged 323 points or 0.82 per cent to close at 38,980; while the broader NSE Nifty settled 88 points or 0.76 per cent lower at 11,516.
Major laggards in the BSE pack include Bajaj Finserv, PowerGrid, L&T, ICICI Bank, TCS, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Tata Steel with their stocks slipping as much as 2.23 per cent.
On the NSE platform, Nifty Bank, Financial Services and Realty dropped as much as 1.68 per cent.
According to traders, domestic equities traded on a negative note tracking weak cues from global markets after the US Federal Reserve hinted at the key policy interest rate staying close to zero at least through 2023 without unveiling any additional stimulus plans.
Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 264.66 crore on a net basis, exchange data showed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the rupee depreciated 14 paise and settled at 73.66 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday tracking muted domestic equities.
At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened on a weak note at 73.70, and finally closed at 73.66 against the American currency, registering a fall of 14 paise over its last close.
(With PTI inputs)