New Delhi, 15 March (H.S.): Escalating West Asia tensions hammered domestic equities, with the Sensex plunging 4,354.98 points or 5.51% and Nifty cratering 1,299.35 points or 5.31% over the trading week ending Friday, capping relentless sell-offs save for a brief March 10 rebound.

The BSE benchmark closed Friday at 74,563.92 from a February 11 peak of 84,487.34—a monthly 10,000-point erosion—while Nifty settled at 23,151.10 down from 26,009.40, reflecting crude spikes and global jitters.

BSE Largecap dipped 5%, with Polcab India, IDBI Bank, L&T, M&M, TVS Motor, Meesho, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors PV, UltraTech Cement, Maruti Suzuki, Varun Beverages, and IndusInd Bank tumbling 10-15%; Midcap fell 4.52% (Bharat Forge, Colgate, Ramco Cements, HCL Tech, KEI Industries et al down 10-15%, offset by 5-17% gains in Arbindo Pharma, Premier Energies, Suzlon, Adani Total Gas); Smallcap slid 3.60%, heavyweights like Aquilon Nexus, SEPC, Silver Touch Tech dropping 18-22% amid 15-22% risers such as Apollo Pipes, Happiest Minds.

Sectoral carnage hit auto (Nifty Auto -10.60%), PSU banks (-7.20%), defense (-7.01%), private banks (-7%), and metals (-6%), with all indices closing red amid sustained FPI outflows.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar