Equities slide as COVID-19 pandemic cripples global businesses

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Equity indices recovered some lost ground from the intraday low point on Thursday but ended over 2 per cent lower due to concerns over the economic impact of coronavirus pandemic. In money markets, the rupee fell to a low of 75.05 versus the US dollar against the previous close of 74.26. The BSE S and P Sensex closed 581 points or 2.01 per cent lower at 28,288 while the Nifty 50 was down by 242 points or 2.42 per cent at 8,263. All sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the negative zone with Nifty auto down by 5.8 per cent, metal by 5.2 per cent, realty by 3.4 per cent and IT by 3 per cent. Among stocks, Bharti Infratel dropped by 18.2 per cent to Rs 122.50 per share while Axis Bank traded lower by 9.6 per cent. Zee Entertainment closed 13.8 per cent down and ONGC lost by 10.6 per cent. The other prominent losers were Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Bajaj Finance, Hindalco, Maruti and Mahindra and Mahindra. As a result, Asian markets traded low