Profit-booking drags indices ahead of expiry

UNDER PRESSURE

- KISHOR KADAM

THE BENCHMARK EQUITY indices slumped in the final hour of trade on Monday amid profit-booking ahead of the monthly F&O expiry on Tuesday and mixed global cues.

After opening on a positive note, the Sensex touched the day’s high of 85,473.47, gaining 241.55 points, but later succumbed to selling pressure, slipping to an intraday low of 84,710.11—a fall of 763.36 points (0.89%) from the peak.

It eventually settled at 84,900.71, down 331.21 points (0.39%).

The Nifty declined sharply, falling 230.65 points (0.89%) from the day’s high, before ending below the 26,000 mark at 25,959.50, down 108.65 points (0.42%), starting the week on a weak note.