Sensex tanks over 850 points on weak global cues

Asian Paints, Maruti Suzuki India, Axis Bank, Wipro and Mahindra & Mahindra were the biggest drag in morning trade, tumbling up to 4.51%.

Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 850 points in the opening session on March 4, 2022, tracking a weak trend in global markets amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The 30-share Sensex slumped 851.99 points to 54,250.69 in early trade after a weak start. The broader Nifty declined 185.60 points to 16,312.45.

"Volatility in US equities continue as the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its second week. Investors remain wary and attempt to gauge how international sanctions could penalise Putin's regime. The Dow Jones fell 0.3 per cent. The Nasdaq was down more than 1.6 per cent while the S&P 500 lost 0.5 per cent," according to Mitul Shah, Head of Research at Reliance Securities.

Asian Paints, Maruti Suzuki India, Axis Bank, Wipro and Mahindra & Mahindra were the biggest drag in morning trade, tumbling up to 4.51%.

In the previous session, the 30-share BSE index finished 366.22 points or 0.66% lower at 55,102.68. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 107.90 points or 0.65% to close at 16,498.05.

Bourses in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo were trading significantly lower in mid-session deals.

Stock exchanges in the U.S. closed in the negative zone in the overnight session.