Sensex slides 216 pts on weak global cues

Key domestic equity benchmark indices slid for the second day on Wednesday on the back of weak global sentiment. NTPC fell 3.1 per cent, its biggest single-day drop in five months, as it posted nearly flat profit for the September quarter. The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell 1.07 per cent, or 216 points, to close at 20,005. The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was down 1.16 per cent to close at 6,011. Equity indices in Europe were down for the second session on Wednesday. The key benchmark indices in the UK, Germany and France were down by 0.01-0.55 per cent.

“Apart from weak global sentiment, the fall in Indian market is also due to derivative expiry. Unwinding of some long positions was witnessed,” said Kishor Ostwal, managing director, CNI Research.