A benchmark index for Indian equities markets on Thursday closed 137 points lower as traders reacted negatively to the interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India — the tenth interest rate hike since March 2010.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,060.11 points, closed at 17,995.19 points (provisional) — down 137.05 points or 0.76 percent from its previous close at 18,132.24 points. The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the red at 5,398.6 points, down 0.9 per cent.
Broader markets too ended in losses, with the BSE midcap index closing 0.81 per cent down and the BSE smallcap index ending 0.63 per cent lower.
Markets closed lower after RBI said that it would persist with its hawkish monetary stance to curb inflation.