Nifty closed in the red for the third consecutive day; Sensex tanks 314 points

Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled 372 points on Thursday, tracking losses in major indices L&T, Infosys and TCS amid a negative trend in global markets.

The 30-share index ended 372.32 points or 0.62 per cent lower at 59,636.01. Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 133.85 points or 0.75 per cent to end at 17,764.80. M&M was the top loser in the Sensex pack, falling over 3 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra, L&T, HCL Tech, Tata Steel and IndusInd Bank.

On the other hand, SBI, PowerGrid, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and HUL were among the gainers.

Likita Chepa, Senior Research Analyst, CapitalVia Global Research, said domestic sentiment was impacted by the rise in energy prices partly due to inflationary pressures along with negative cues from other Asian markets.

Elsewhere in Asia, shares ended with losses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. Stock exchanges in Europe were trading largely with gains in mid-session deals.

Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude slipped 0.46 per cent to $79.91 a barrel.