Mumbai

Benchmark equity indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 fell more than 1 per cent during intra-day trade on Friday, weighed down by the intensifying conflict in West Asia and rising global oil prices.

Heavy selling in global markets, continued foreign fund outflows and weakness in the rupee also dragged the markets lower.

Declining for the third consecutive session, the 30-share Sensex plunged 963.98 points or 1.26 per cent to 75,070.44 during intra-day trade. The 50-share Nifty dropped 333.4 points or 1.41 per cent to 23,305.75.

Among Sensex firms, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Steel fell over 4 per cent each. Bharat Electronics Limited, UltraTech Cement, Axis Bank and Maruti Suzuki were also among the major laggards.

On the other hand, Hindustan Unilever, Trent Ltd, Bharti Airtel and NTPC Limited were among the gainers.

Meanwhile, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.49 per cent to USD 101 per barrel.

In Asian markets, Kospi, Nikkei 225, SSE Composite Index and Hang Seng Index were trading lower.

The US markets also ended sharply lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 1.78 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining 1.56 per cent and the S&P 500 dropping 1.52 per cent.

According to exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 7,049.87 crore on Thursday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 7,449.77 crore.

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On Thursday, the Sensex had plunged 829.29 points or 1.08 per cent to settle at 76,034.42, while the Nifty fell 227.70 points or 0.95 per cent to close at 23,639.15.