Sensex plunges 949pts, Nifty ends 285pts lower; Airtel, RIL, IT shares drag

The broader markets also weakened towards the end of the trade, and the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices ended with a loss of 1.4 per cent each

Closing Bell

The key benchmark indices extended Friday's fall as investors continued to adopt a cautious approach given the uncertainity around the Omicron virus and the upcoming RBI policy meeting on December 08. Selling was clearly visible in IT and FMCG shares, while select auto and financial stocks also weakened as the progressed. Index heavyweights, Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel too lost ground.

The BSE benchmark index, the Sensex, opened 82-odd points higher at 57,778, and could barely move an inch higher to 57,781, before slipping into the negative zone. Weakness spread to the broader markets in the