Indian stock benchmarks plunged 3% at the end of trading, the worst in Asia and the steepest single-day decline since May, as
investors fretted over the possibility of fresh curbs squeezing economic
activity.
During the day, the benchmark index BSE Sensex plunged as much as 4.34%, while the NSEs Nifty index shed 4.57%. The Sensex ended trading
at 45,553.96, while the Nifty closed at 13,328.40, down 3.14%.
Markets in the rest of Asia-Pacific were mixed. Mainland Chinese stocks ended higher, with the Shanghai composite gaining 0.76% while
Hong Kongs Hang Seng index declined 0.72%. The coronavirus situation in
countries such as Japan and South Korea remained severe, weighing on
investor sentiment.