Mumbai, Oct 27 (IANS) A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets nosedived to end about 3 percent lower than its previous close.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,699.09 points, shut shop at 16,330.6 points (provisional) -- 409.9 points or 2.44 percent lower than Monday's close at 16,740.5 points.
The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, followed a similar trajectory and ended in the negative at 4,841.4 points, down 2.61 percent.
Selling pressure was rampant across markets, with the BSE midcap index ending 3.7 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index 4.38 percent down.
Among the sectors that bore the bulk of the selling brunt were realty, metal and banking.