Equity benchmarks capitulate in the last hour of trade, close in red

Bajaj Finance led the losers among the Sensex constituents, falling 1.81 per cent, followed by PowerGrid, Infosys, TCS, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, NTPC, and Larsen & Toubro.

Equity benchmarks capitulated in the last hour of trade on Thursday to break their two-session winning run, with IT, finance, and bank stocks playing spoilsport amid expiry of monthly derivative contracts.

A weakening rupee also weighed on sentiment, traders said. After remaining in the positive territory for most part of the session, the 30-share BSE Sensex suddenly came under selling pressure towards the fag-end, tumbling 310.71 points or 0.53 per cent to settle at 58,774.72.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty dropped 82.50 points or 0.47 per cent to 17,522.45.

Bajaj Finance led the losers among the Sensex constituents, falling 1.81