Sensex falls over 200 points, Nifty tests 21,400; Solar Industries, JSW Energy, Union Bank down up to 6%

Indian equity benchmarks traded lower in Monday’s early deals, dragged by banks, financials and metal stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex slipped 236 points or 0.33 per cent to trade at 71,248, while the NSE Nifty was down 45 points or 0.21 per cent to trade at 21,412. Broader markets (mid- and small-cap shares) were also weak as Nifty Midcap 100 was down 0.35 per cent and small-cap shed 0.37 per cent.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) purchased shares worth Rs 42,733 crore in the first half of December, after turning net buyers in November, data from National Securities Depository showed.

On the global front, Asia stocks slipped in a subdued start to a week.

Shares of Solar Industries, JSW Energy, Union Bank, SJVN, JW Steel and India Cement were down up to 5.56 per cent.