Sensex tumbles 340 points, ends below 18,000

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The BSE Sensex tumbled 340 points and the Nifty lost nearly 100 points as blue chip stocks slumped on fears of foreign investor selling after the rupee hit new lows ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve report that may give details of its stimulus policy.

ITC fell 4.6 percent, while Reliance Industries ended 5 percent lower.

The Sensex fell 1.9 percent, while the 50-share Nifty ended down 1.8 percent, extending their selling streak for a fourth day, after rising nearly 2 percent on RBI steps to ease cash and bond rules.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)