Markets fall as inflation worries haunt investors

Mumbai The BSE Sensex spiralled lower for the second straight session on Wednesday, weighed by heavy selling in banking and finance stocks, as global equities extended their losses on concerns that soaring commodity prices will trigger earlier-than-expected rate hikes.

The 30-share BSE benchmark slumped 471.01 points or 0.96 per cent to finish at 48,690.80. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty tumbled 154.25 points or 1.04 per cent to 14,696.50. IndusInd Bank was the top laggard on the Sensex chart, shedding 3.35 per cent, followed by HUL, ONGC, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank, M&M, UltraTech Cement and Tech Mahindra. On the other hand, Titan, Maruti, PowerGrid, SBI, NTPC, Dr Reddy's and L&T managed to close in the green, climbing up to 1.31 per cent.

"Indian indices extended its losses due to concerns over hike in global interest rates and bond yield due to rising commodity prices and inflationary pressure," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services. International commodity prices will have to stabilise to provide sustenance in the equity market, he added. Binod Modi, Head Strategy at Reliance Securities, said daily Covid-19 caseload trending below 3.5 lakh for last two days offers comfort, but elevated positivity rate and rising cases in the hinterlands are expected to weigh on investor sentiment.

India saw a record 4,205 Covid-19 fatalities in a day, taking the death toll to 2,54,197, while 3,48,421 new coronavirus infections were reported, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. Sector-wise, BSE metal, basic materials, bankex, oil and gas, energy and finance indices tanked up to 3.22 per cent, while the auto index settled with gains. Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell up to 0.90 per cent. On the global markets front, Wall Street continued its slide as investors fretted over soaring commodity prices and their impact on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.