Benchmark indices stayed on the back foot for the second straight session on Wednesday as post-poll uncertainty in Karnataka and flaring up of tensions on the Korean peninsula sapped investor optimism. Banking stocks were battered after scam-scarred PNB posted a record loss for the March quarter amid the Government tightening the screws on some senior public sector bankers.
The BSE Sensex sank 156.06 points to end at 35,387.88, while the Nifty lost 60.75 points to 10,741.10. Globally, most Asian markets fell after North Korea unexpectedly cancelled high-level talks with Seoul and threatened to call off the much anticipated summit with the US, reigniting tensions on the peninsula.