Sensex dips below 19k level on interest rate concerns

Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) BSE benchmark Sensex today dippedbelow crucial 19,000 points level for the first time in twomonths in pre-close selling today, spiked by concerns that RBImay hike key interest rates to tame inflation.

After a weak start, the Sensex tumbled 289.81 points downto 18,893.01 points at 1445 hrs, a level last seen on November26, 2010.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange indexNifty fell by 91.15 points to 5,660.75 level, with a notablefall in interest-sensitive stocks of realty, auto and bankingsectors.

The inflation shot up to 8.43 per cent in December, from7.48 per cent in the previous month, as prices of certain foodand non-food items continued to show an upward trend.