Omicron threat spooks markets, Sensex tumbles

Tata Steel, SBI, HDFC Bank among major losers.

Mumbai: Equity indices plunged to over four-month lows on Monday as concerns over surging Omicron cases across the world jolted investors, sparking a heavy selloff in global markets. Relentless selling by foreign investors amid a hawkish tilt by central banks also weighed on sentiment, traders said.

The 30-share BSE Sensex slumped 1,189.73 points or 2.90 per cent to end at 55,822.01 -- its lowest since August 23 this year. On similar lines, the NSE Nifty tanked 371 points or 2.18 per cent to end at 16,614.20.

The market capitalisation of all BSE-listed companies tumbled by Rs 6.79 lakh crore to stand at Rs 2,52,57,581.05 crore.

Tata Steel was the top loser in the Sensex pack, sinking 5.20 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, SBI, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and NTPC.

Only HUL and Dr Reddy’s managed to close in the green, climbing up to 1.70 per cent.

According to experts, exploding COVID-19 cases, sustained selling by foreign institutional investors and slowing growth momentum in the developed economies have spooked markets the world over.

All sectoral indices ended in the red, with BSE realty, oil and gas, metal, bankex and energy indices falling up to 4.74 per cent. Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices lost as much as 3.42 per cent.

Foreign institutional investors continued to offload shares in the capital market on Friday, as they sold equities worth Rs 2,069.90 crore, exchange data showed.

Global equities spiralled lower after surging Omicron cases raised the prospects of fresh lockdowns ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended with heavy losses. Stock exchanges in Europe too were trading deep in the red in mid-session deals.

Expert speak

“India has been undergoing a phase of consolidation in the last two months. Currently, selloff is due to rapid rise in FIIs selling triggered by hawkish world central banks’ policy, cautious view on Indian market due to high valuation compared to peers and drop in retail inflows,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

“We feel that we are reaching the last phase of this consolidation in terms of price correction,” he added.

Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking, said markets reacted to the news of a sharp jump in the COVID cases globally. “Though the situation is under control domestically at present, any impact on the global economic recovery would dent our prospects too. Besides, the continuous outflow of the foreign fund was also weighing on the sentiment. We reiterate our cautious view on markets,” he noted. -(PTI)