Equity benchmarks slip for third day, Sensex finishes below 61,000 mark

Surrender early gains; banks, automotive stocks among biggest losers

Equity benchmarks surrendered early gains to finish in the red for the third session on the trot on Thursday as hawkish comments from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Covid-19 surge in China kept buying sentiment in check despite largely positive global market trends.
 

After a gap-up opening, the 30-share BSE Sensex buckled under selling pressure as the session progressed and finally closed 241.02 points or 0.39 per cent lower at 60,826.22. During the day, it tumbled 430 points or 0.70 per cent to 60,637.24.
 

On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty dropped 71.75 points or 0.39 per cent