Sensex sheds 323pts, Nifty manages to hold 17,400; Infosys, ITC slip 2%

Smallcaps, sugar stocks and shares of recently listed companies like Paytm, SJS Enterprises, Fino Payments Bank and PolicyBazaar were in demand

Closing Bell

After holding gains for a major part of the trading day, the key benchmark indices nose-dived to lower levels in late deals dragged by weakness in key index heavyweights like Infosys, ITC and Reliance Industries.

The BSE benchmark index, the Sensex, had opened 175 points higher at 58,839, steady gains in financial and power stocks helped the index touch a high of 58,968. However, weakness in late noon deals saw the BSE index slide to a low of 58,143 - down 825 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended 323 points lower at 58,341.