Reality check for stocks? Sensex dives 222 points

A back-to-back record-setting run made stocks do a reality check on Thursday when the Sensex plunged over 222 points and the Nifty cracked below 9,500 in early session amid dollar outflows and a sluggish trend overseas. All sectoral indices flashed red, down by up to 1.19%, with realty, consumer durables, bank and auto registering much losses.

The 30-share barometer fell by 222.21 points, or 0.72%, to 30,436.56. The gauge had rallied 470.62 points in the previous three sessions, buoyed by continuous foreign funds inflows and brighter prospects for rains.

On Thursday, the gauge had closed at a fresh lifetime peak of 30,658.77 after climbing to a new intra-day record-high of 30,692.45. The NSE index Nifty also slipped from record and slumped by 77 points, or 0.80%, to 9,448.75. It closed at an all-time high of 9,525.75 on Thursday after a new intra-day peak of 9,532.60.

Other than locking in profit by investors, political as well as economic uncertainties stemming from US President Donald Trump's recent executive decisions had their bearing on the market direction. Asian indices remained weak too, tracking Thursday's heavy sell-off in US markets.

Japan's Nikkei moved down by 1.44% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.25% in early trade on Friday. Shanghai Composite shed 0.06%. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.78% lower in Friday's trade, its biggest single-day slump in eight months.

Bombay Stock Exchange - BSE

National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE)