Sensex, Nifty crash by more than 2 percent

A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip BSE Sensitive Index (Sensex), plunged 672.21 points or 2.45 percent during afternoon session on Wednesday.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also tanked 216.55 points or 2.60 percent and was trading at 8,108.25 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,473.36 points, was trading at 26,767.93 points (at 12.40 p.m.), down 672.21 points or 2.45 percent from the previous day's close at 27,440.14 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 27,501.15 points and a low of 26,738.55 points in the intra-day trade so far.

Almost all the sectors were trading in red. Heavy selling pressure was seen in capital goods, power, realty, consumer durables, metal and banking.

The BSE S&P capital goods index tanked by 3.76 percent, power index fell by 3.55 percent, realty index dropped by 3.32 percent, consumer durables index fell by 3.12 percent, metal index slipped by 3.11 percent and bankex went down by 2.98 percent.