ADVERTISEMENT
Sensex Nosedives 850 Points As Markets Hit 3-Month Low: 10 Things To Know
The rupee hit a new all-time low of 73.77 against dollar Asian stocks were pressured as borrowing costs rose at home FPIs bought shares worth a net of Rs. 1,550 crore
04 Oct 2018, 01:45 PM IST 
Share markets on Thursday: Twenty eight out of 30 Sensex stocks started the session in the red.
- A selloff across the board dragged the indices lower. On the 50-scrip Nifty index, forty two stocks traded in the negative zone in afternoon. Top laggards included Eicher Motors, Reliance Industries, Hero MotoCorp, Dr Reddy's, Adani Ports and TCS - trading between 4 per cent and 8.5 per cent lower.
- The Nifty Bank - the NSE's index comprising banking stocks - was down 1.9 per cent.
- The rupee weakened further to register a new all-time low of 73.77 against the dollar. That along with concerns on widening of the current account deficit due to soaring crude oil prices worried investors, say analysts.
- "The fresh record low of rupee, hardening bond yields, weak Asian Market cues and the ever present risk of rising crude led to the fall today", Viral Berawala, CIO at Essel Mutual Fund, told NDTV.
- Oil prices have reached four-year peaks. Brent - the international benchmark for crude oil - eased 18 cents to $86.11 a barrel on Thursday.
- High crude oil prices along with rupee depreciation make oil imports costlier. India meets more than 80 per cent of its oil demand through imports.
- Caution prevailed in the markets ahead of RBI's statement due on Friday. Analysts expect the central bank to hike the repo rate by 0.25 per cent. "Investors are cautious ahead of RBI policy as increase in repo rates to control depreciating rupee can act as a dampener for some green shoots seen in economy," added Mr Berawala.
- Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu will hold an inter-ministerial meeting later in the day to discuss trade deficit and its impact on rupee as well as ways to boost exports.
- The RBI Wednesday relaxed its policy on borrowing from overseas to allow state-owned fuel retailers to raise up to $10 billion external debt for working capital needs. It had earlier that it would pump Rs 36,000 crore into money markets in October.
- Globally, the dollar notched an 11-month top on the yen on Thursday as strong US economic data drove Treasury yields to their highest since mid-2011. Asian stocks were pressured as borrowing costs rose at home.
(With inputs from agencies)
