Stocks, Rs bleed

Top Gainers

Particulars          last Traded Price            

ITC          352.7     1.48%

COAl INDIA        348.85   1.34%

GAIl      450.9     0.74%

CIPlA    579         0.13%

Top losers

Particulars          last Traded Price            

HINDAlCO          142.9     -5.46%

M&M    1218.85 -4.41%

SESA STERlITE   239.35   -4.09%

TATA STEEl         439.85   -3.57%

TATA POWER     83.85     -3.29%

RElIANCE            932.35   -2.99%

BHEl      219.1     -2.95%

BHARTI AIRTEl  388.15   -2.59%

• Sensex sinks 350 points to end below the 26,000-mark after a gap of two months on heavy bout of selling in the second half, tracking turbulence in Europe due to global growth worries.
• The 30-share index touched day’s high of 26,462.08 on continued weakness in global crude price and exit polls showing the BJP is gaining in Maharashtra and Haryana polls.
• A late sell-off in line with global markets pulled Sensex down to hit a low of 25,933.98.
• Nifty of the National Stock Exchange cracked the 7,800-mark by falling 115.80 points, or 1.47 per cent, to close at 7,748.20. The gauge moved between 7,893.90 and 7,729.65.

RUPEE TUMBlES TO OVER 7-MONTH lOW

• Indian rupee plummeted to 61.93 and closed 42 paise down at over seven-month low of 61.83 against the greenback on heavy capital outflows and a spike in demand for US dollars.
• The dollar index was up by a whopping 0.45 per cent against basket of six major global rivals, which also pushed the rupee to log its biggest daily loss since September 15.
• A widening trade deficit that hit a 18-month high in September was also among the factors that led to rupee depreciation.
• At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the local unit commenced lower at 61.56 and attempted a recovery to touch a high of 61.43. However, it fell back to a low of 61.93 and closed at 61.83, logging a loss of 42 paise or 0.68 per cent. Today’s close is the rupee’s weakest level since 61.85 on March 4, 2014.
• Demand for dollars from importers weakened rupee. Speculation amongst traders that a big defence payment is due in November that could reduce reserves also weakened the currency,’ said Suresh Nair, Director, Admisi Forex India Pvt ltd.

GOlD BECOMES COSTlIER AHEAD OF DIWAlI

• In Mumbai, standard gold price rose by a hefty Rs 370 to Rs 27,520. In Kolkata, gold (24 carat) rose by Rs 55 per 10 grams to Rs 27,940 while the precious metal for retail use (22 carat) became costlier by Rs 310 at Rs 25,970 in Chennai. Gold imports are estimated to have jumped about five-times to around 95 tonnes in September, helped by spurt in demand in festival season.

OIl PRICES HIT NEW DEPTHS ON OVERSUPPlY

• Oil prices reached new multi-year low points owing to a supply glut and weak global demand, before clawing back some ground as poor US retail data pressured the dollar.
• Brent struck USD 83.37 a barrel -- the lowest level for nearly four years -- and the WTI contract dropped to USD 80.01, a point last seen more than two years ago.  In later deals, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November stood at USD 84.89 a barrel, down 18 cents compared with yesterday’s close.
• US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for November was down 13 cents at USD 81.71.