HMPV case detection in Bengaluru scares investors, Sensex down 800 points
After India's first HMPV case was detected in Bengaluru amid reports of a virus outbreak in China, stock market investors chose to play it safe, with the Sensex falling over 800 point and Nifty losing over 1%. The fear gauge index, India VIX, jumped 10% as a widespread sell-off was seen across mid and small-cap stocks as well as in various sectors. The Sensex fell over 800 points to its day's low of 78,382, while the Nifty tumbled near the 23,700-level. PSU banks, real estate stocks, and oil and gas were among the worst-hit sectors. Bank of Baroda, PNB, and Canara Bank were down around 4% each, while heavyweights HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries (RIL), and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the biggest drags on the Sensex.