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Shares of state-run lenders plunged by up to 12.4% today as investor sentiment was hit by mounting bad loans and disappointing earnings reported by them.
Central Bank of India shares plummeted by 12.37%, Allahabad Bank slumped 9.61% and Punjab National Bank dived 8.99%.
Among others, Dena Bank shares declined by 7.52% while Indian Overseas Bank tumbled 5.20% on the BSE.
Besides, SBI scrip fell by 4.82% to Rs 158.95 ahead of the bank's financial results tomorrow.
All these stocks had hit their respective 52-week lows during the day.
The BSE bank index fell by 2.04% to settle at 16,519.15.
Central Bank of India yesterday reported a loss of Rs 836.62 crore for October-December 2015-16, against a profit of Rs 137.65 crore in the third quarter of the previous fiscal.
The asset quality worsened with the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) rising to 8.95% of the gross advances during the quarter, as against 6.2% a year ago.
Similarly, Dena Bank reported a loss of Rs 662.85 crore for the third quarter as against net profit of Rs 76.56 crore in the same quarter last year.
Gross NPAs as a percentage of total advances rose to 9.85% from 5.61% in the same quarter a year ago, Dena Bank said in a statement.
Allahabad Bank reported a loss of Rs 486.14 crore for the third quarter. The bank had earned a net profit of Rs 164.11 crore in the same quarter last year.
Gross NPAs as a percentage to total advances rose to 6.40% from 5.46% in the same quarter year ago.
Country's second largest PSU lender PNB's net profit plummeted by 93% to Rs 51 crore for the third quarter from Rs 774.56 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal due to higher provisioning for mounting bad assets.
The bank increased its provisioning and contingencies allocation to Rs 3,775.53 crore, a steep increase from Rs 1,467.77 crore parked aside in the same quarter a year ago.
The bank's asset quality deteriorated further as gross NPAs hit 8.47% of the gross advances as against 5.97% a year ago.
