Sensex crash by more than 2000 points, closes at 17,605 points

The Bombay Stock Exchange closed at 17,605.35 points, -1,408.35 or -7.41 per cent from Fridays close of 19,013.70 points.

Mumbai, Jan21 : The Bombay Stock Exchange closed at 17,605.35 points, -1,408.35 or -7.41 per cent from Friday's close of 19,013.70 points.

In what is being described as one of the biggest falls in the Sensex, market crashed today by more than 2000 points in a very volatile market before the trading was closed half-an-hour ahead stipulated time.

The Sensex was trading at 16,963.96 points, 2,049.74 points or 10.78 per cent down from Friday's close of 19,013.70 points.

The BSE Smallcap Index was down -10.27 per cent, while the CNX Midcap Index fell by -11.38 per cent.

The National Stock Exchange's (NSE) Nifty was trading at 5,145.00 points, over 560 points or 9.82 per cent down from Friday's close of 5,705.30 points.

DLF, ITC and Reliance Communications were the leading losers on the Sensex, while on Nifty the major gainers were Suzlon, Ranbaxy Lab, Nalco, GAIL, BPCL and Unitech were the top gainers.

Reliance Industries, RNRL, Reliance Energy were the most active counters.

Asian markets were also trading weak. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 2.51 per cent or 633.15 points at 24,568.72. Japan's Nikkei plunged 3.36 per cent or 466.01 points at 13,395.28. Singapore's Straits Times fell 1.48 per cent or 45.82 points at 3,058.43. South Korea's Seoul Composite declined 1.99 per cent or 34.57 points at 1,700.15. Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted dropped 0.21 per cent or 17.20 points at 8,167.45.

ANI