Indian shares ended lower on Wednesday, their third straight session of falls, dragged down by healthcare and financial stocks amid mounting tensions between the United States and North Korea. The benchmark BSE index closed down 0.68 percent at 31,797.84, its lowest close in over three weeks. The broader NSE index ended 0.71 percent lower at 9,908.05, its lowest close since July 21.
Analysts said any fall in domestic equities could be limited. Shares have hit records highs this year on prospects of improving earnings and economic and fiscal reforms from the government.
Drugmaker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries' shares slumped as much as 5 percent to their lowest in over four years after unit Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's June-qtr profit halved to $54.5 million. The Nifty Pharma index fell as much as 2.2 percent to its lowest in over two months. Nifty Bank index was trading 0.5 percent lower, after falling nearly a percent in the last two sessions.