Market Benchmark Index continued to be in bear phase after slipping over 400 points at 30,184 on Wednesday. Broader Nifty 50 also was down by 106 points at 8,860 attributing to the spread of the deadly virus.
As soon as the markets opened it looked slightly better as Sensex surged over 500 points in the opening session on Wednesday as global markets turned positive on hopes of stimulus packages by governments world over to cushion the economic blow of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, investors began booking profits pushing the BSE barometer in the red. The index pared all gains to trade 48.36 points or 0.16 per cent lower at 30,530.73 after jumping 522,68 points at open.
Similarly, after spiking over 160 points, the NSE Nifty was at 10.85 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 8,956.20.
In the previous session, the Sensex closed 810.98 points or 2.58 per cent lower at 30,579.09, while the Nifty slumped 230.35 points or 2.50 per cent to finish at 8,967.05.
On a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 4,044.69 crore on Tuesday, data available with stock exchanges showed.
Axis Bank, PowerGrid, Kotak Bank, IndusInd Bank and Nestle India were the top laggards, while Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel, TCS, HCL Tech, HDFC Bank and ITC were among the gainers.
According to traders, domestic equities followed global stocks as hopes of economic stimuli from governments gave some respite to the increasing woes of investors.
US stocks recovered in overnight trade after reports that US President Donald Trump will ask Congress to approve a massive USD 850 billion emergency spending package to contain the growing economic damage from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that will include a payroll tax cut and a bailout for airlines.
It is the most far-reaching economic rescue package since the great recession of 2008.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Japan were trading on a positive note.
Traders are looking at every spike to book profits in this market, they added.
The number of deaths around the world linked to Covid-19 has topped 7,400, with over 1,80,000 infections recorded globally so far.
In India, the number of infected cases stood at 130, as per union health ministry log.
The rupee appreciated 22 paise to 74.02 against US dollar in morning session.
Meanwhile, global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose over 1.50 per cent to USD 29.16 per barrel.
