Provisional: Markets slump nearly 3% amid global sell off

The Sensex slumped over 500 points after comments by the US Fed said that it would start pruning its monetary stimulus measures by end-2013 and weak China manufacturing data led to a sell off in global equities on Thursday.

Further, the rupee which slumped to an all-time low of Rs 59.94 also dampened investor sentiment as it would force the Reserve Bank of India to defer easing of key policy rates going forward.

The 30-share Sensex ended down 539 points or 2.8% at 18,708 and 50-share Nifty ended down 173 points or 2.98% at 5,649. (Provisional)