Sensex below 12,000 level with 359 points fall

Mumbai, May 15: The Bombay Stock Exchange's (BSE) sensitive index (Sensex) plunged by 359 points to 11,925 this afternoon at 1357 hrs on the back of weaker Asian markets as well as fears of foreign fund outflow.

Sensex was down by 2.93 per cent as compared to the last close of 12,285 on Friday.

The NSE Nifty index traded 105 points lower at 3,545 at 1359 hrs as compared to the last close of 3,650 points.

Earlier, the Bombay Stock Exchange's (BSE) sensitive index (Sensex) opened 13 points lower at 12,272 as compared to the last close of 12,285.

Market sentiments were down after Rs 1,199 crore foreign fund outflow reported on Thursday by market regulator SEBI.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index opened higher at 3,651 points as compared to the last close of 3,650.05.

The maximum fall was in BSE Metal index down by 6.30 per cent, BSE Oil&Gas index was down by 2.74 per cent, BSE Capital Goods index was down by 2.67 per cent.

Sectorwise, smallcap scrips were down by 1.00 per cent and BSE Midcap index was down by 1.41 per cent.

The top losers on the Sensex were Hindalco, Grasim Industries, Larsen&Toubro, Tata Steel, Gujarat Ambuja Cements, ITC, Reliance, Hindustan Lever, Ranbaxy and ONGC.

UNI