Sensex closes 287 points down

MUMBAI: Stock market today recorded its biggest decline in about a month with a 287 point fall in the Sensex, on heavy selling in blue chips like RIL, Bharti Airtel and DLF and negative cues from South Korea and Europe.

Selling pressure intensified late afternoon trade as reports trickled in about fall on South Korean bourses due to a large-scale foreign fund selling, which is being attributed to failure of US President Barack Obama and his Korean counterpart to reach a free-trade accord.

Despite opening on a handsome note, the 30-share sensitive index corrected by 286.62 points or 1.37 per cent, to settle the day at 20,589.09. On October 15, the barometer had tumbled by 372 points.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange's wide-based Nifty tanked by 81.45 points to finish at 6,194.25.

Analysts attributed the bearish sentiment to the lack of fresh buying in the market and the negative global cues.

"Tight liquidity in the market due to the continuous FPOs and IPOs coupled with the weak global cues are the major reasons for the market correction," Networth Stock Broking Head of Institutional Business Prakash Diwan said.

Continuing southward journey for the third straight session, shares of the country's most valued firm Reliance Industries plunged 1.85 per cent to close at Rs 1,082.05. The scrip has shed 2.69 per cent in three trading days.

Poor performance by the blue chips including DLF and Bharti Airtel also contributed to weakness on the Dalal Street.

Realty giant DLF emerged as the worst Sensex performer after posting a 5 per cent dip in its second quarter profit. The scrip fell 4.41 per cent and JP Associates too slid by 3.28 per cent, dragging the BSE-Realty index down by 120 points.

"Profit booking across the counters and the lack of some major trigger is drifting the broader market," Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services Research Head Alex Mathews said.

All 13 sectoral indices closed in the red with realty losing the most.

Similarly, telecom leader Bharti Airtel continued to fall after having reported dip in second quarter numbers yesterday. The scrip today shed 3.26 per cent to close at Rs 317.45.

Among the 30 Sensex scrips, 25 ended the day in red, while only five managed to finish on a positive note.

The losses in the market were primarily offset by the gains in Hindalco(2.65 per cent), Mahindra & Mahindra (1 per cent) and Tata Power (1.47 per cent). The aluminium producer Hindalco erased its yesterday's losses, becoming the best Sensex performer
.