Sensex tanks 317 pts to 3-mth low on global woes, freight hike

The BSE benchmark index Sensex today widened early losses to end 316.55 points down at 3-month low of 19,015.14, wiping out over Rs 1 lakh crore wealth as Rail Budget failed to inspire investors, already rattled by fears of worsening EU debt crisis following poll stalemate in Italy.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share S&P BSE Sensex resumed lower on the back of weak Asian cues following steep 216-point fall on Wall Street yesterday on concerns over Italian elections and looming spending cuts in the US.
Sensex continued to reel under selling pressure breaching the 19K level to a low of 18,976.94 before settling at 19,015.14 -- a loss of 316.55 points or 1.64 per cent. This was its lowest close since 18,842.08 on November 27, 2012.

Similarly, the 50-issue CNX Nifty of the NSE also plunged by 93.40 points or 1.60 per cent to end below 5,800-mark at a three-month low of 5,761.35.
Presenting the Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha today, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal hiked freight tariff of less than five per cent, effective from April 1 this year.
"There was nothing exciting in the budget and the freight rate hike could push up prices," said Pankaj Pandey, Head Research, ICICIdirect.

25 out of 30 Sensex-based scrips fell. Losses were led by RIL, HDFC, Tata Motors, ONGC, M&M, Bajaj Auto and CIL all of whom shed 3-4 per cent each. Mid-cap and small-cap counters bled for the second straight day today with their BSE indices losing 1.76 and 2.43 per cent respectively.

Railway-linked stocks like Kalindee Rail Nirman and Titagarh Wagons fell between 8-12 per cent.
The total market capitalisation tanked by Rs 1.07 lakh crore today to end at Rs 661.4 lakh crore, BSE data showed.
Global markets turned out a poor performance with Asian markets ending 1-2 per cent down. European indices were trading with deep losses of of 1.5 per cent each in afternoon.
"Global cues were poor today. This dragged down Indian markets," said Saurabh Mukherjea, Head of Equities, Ambit Capital. Reports said an inconclusive result to parliamentary elections in Italy sparked off fresh fears over EU debt crisis.