Four sectoral indices at 52-wk lows

The BSE metal index settled for the day 3.46 per cent lower at 10,072.39,after dropping to its one-year low level at 10042.09,as stocks like JSW Steel,Sesa Goa,SAIL,Sterlite Industries,Hindalco and Tata Steel fell sharply.

JSW Steel was the biggest loser in the metal pack with a 7.05 per cent decline,followed by Sesa Goa (6.99 per cent),SAIL (5.71 per cent),Sterlite (4.85 per cent),Hindalco (3.72 per cent) and Tata Steel (3.03 per cent) on the BSE.

The BSE Bankex index also slumped to its 52-week low of 9,791.42 before settling at 9,831.83. On this index,ICICI Bank was the top loser with a fall of 4.90 per cent,while SBI ended 3.04 per cent down and HDFC Bank dipped by 2.80 per cent.

Analysts said that sectors like bank,realty,power,metal and capital goods were among the worst-hit,because of their significant exposure to rupee valuation and the subsequent possibility of a higher interest rate regime.

The realty and power indices closed down by 3.04 per cent and 2.72 per cent,respectively. During the day,the realty index dipped to its 52-week low of 1,551.94,while power index touched a one-year low of 1,907.35.

Real estate major DLF lost 4.23 per cent,while Parsvnath Developers ended 5.06 per cent down and Indiabulls Real Estate fell by 3.78 per cent.

From the power sector,BHEL shed 5.04 per cent,JSW Energy lost 7.07 per cent and Suzlon Energy plummeted 10.08 per cent.

The BSE benchmark Sensex,which had lost nearly 1,200 points in last seven trading sessions,plunged further by 425.41 points,or 2.60 per cent to 15,946.10.