Indian share prices closed down 0.92 percent Wednesday in nervous trade as investors unwound positions fearing more weakness in Asian markets, dealers said. They said investors sold despite a revival of Asian markets elsewhere on bargain hunting.
The 30-share Mumbai stock exchange Sensex index fell 117.34 points to 12,579.75. At the end of the trading day on Wednesday, the Sensex was down 14.14 percent from its record close of 14,652.09 on February 8 amid investor uncertainty about Japanese interest rates and their potential knock-on effect on the yen's appeal as a cheap funding vehicle.
Losers led gainers 1,959 to 579 on volume of 35.12 billion rupees (789 million dollars). ICICI Bank, fell 25 rupees or 2.94 percent to 826.6 rupees while Wipro fell 24.2 rupees or 4.17 percent to 556.5 rupees.