Date:06/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/06/stories/2008090659972100.htm

Business

Sensex sheds 415 points

MUMBAI: The stock markets remained under pressure for the second day in a row with the Bombay Stock Exchange sensitive index (Sensex) taking a hit of over 415 points on Friday, the biggest fall in nearly two weeks, on sustained selling in realty, banking and IT stocks.

Marketmen said investors were rattled by across- the-board losses in global markets. The Sensex closed at 14483.83, a loss of 415.27 points against 14899.10 on Thursday.

The previous biggest loss for the 30-share index was on August 21 when it lost 435 points. Asian and European markets registered sharp losses.

Rupee ends at 44.65

The Indian rupee fell to its weakest since December 2006 on Friday. It closed at 44.645/655 a dollar against 44.35/36 on Thursday. The rupee fell as low as 44.75, a level it last traded on December 21, 2006, before the central bank was thought to have stepped in as a buyer. — PTI