Among sectors, all the key indices ended in the red, led by the Nifty IT index (down 2 per cent) and the Nifty Realty index (down 1.7 per cent). Nifty Auto index was the only gainer, up 0.4 per cent.
Impact of the lockdown of manufacturing facilities, cigarette inventory levels, guidance on price and volume, and alternate distribution channels are among the key monitorables
Rural markets, which account for around one-third of the industry and have been the key driver of growth in recent years, witnessed a steep fall in growth rates