Mumbai, June 20 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets closed a whopping 348 points lower Monday as traders off-loaded stocks across the market breadth after a report that the tax department was seeking to tax profits made by companies registered in Mauritius.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,060.17 points closed at 17,522.29 points (provisional) -- down 348.24 points or 1.95 percent from its previous close at 17,870.53 points.
It had slipped to an intra-day low of 17,341.38 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended lower at 5,263.45 points, down 1.92 percent.
Broader markets closed in the red as well, with the BSE midcap index down 3.22 percent and the BSE smallcap index down 3.25 percent.