A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Thursday closed 276.33 points or 1.03 percent down as banking stocks tanked.
Good buying was observed in IT sector, while selling pressure was seen in banking, metal, oil and gas, auto and capital goods sectors.
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,808.66 points, closed at 26,468.36 points (provisional), down 276.33 points or 1.03 percent from the previous day's close at 26,744.69 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 26,814.20 points and a low of 26,349.55 points in the trade.
The S&P IT index surged by 117.28 points. However, bankex plunged by 484.14 points, metal index dropped by 351.55 points, oil and gas index slid by 333.85 points, auto index fell by 173.15 points and capital goods index went down by 275.98 points.
The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed lower -- down by 90.55 points or 1.13 percent at 7,911.85 points.
