Sensex, Nifty fall over 1% as surging Covid cases renew growth worries

The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex each fell 1.5% to 14,324.90 and 48,440.12, respectively. The indexes had dropped nearly 2% in the previous session.

Indian shares closed sharply lower for a second straight session on Thursday, led by losses in energy and technology companies, due to renewed concerns over the impact of surging coronavirus cases on economic growth. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex each fell 1.5% to 14,324.90 and 48,440.12, respectively. The indexes had dropped nearly 2% in the previous session. India's daily COVID-19 cases hit a five-month high on Thursday and the country put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca coronavirus shot made by the Serum Institute of India to meet domestic demand.