Sensex losses for 2nd week, ends below 17K

Selling was also witnessed on fears of capital gains on investments made last year, which may come under the controversial General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) - proposed in the 2012-13 Budget. However, according to Finance Ministry officials, GAAR is not expected to come into force with retrospective effect unlike amendments to the Income Tax Act. The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 17,195.51 but declined afterwards to close below 17,000 mark at 16,831.08, a net loss of 356.26 points, or 2.07 per cent, from its previous weekend`s level. The key index had settled at 16,751.73 on January 23, 2012.

The NSE`s wide-based Nifty also plunged by 122.15 points, or 2.34 per cent, to settle at 5,086.85, a level not seen in more than three months. Auto, capital goods, power, banking, metal, PSUs and realty counters took severe beating. Banking stocks slumped as the Reserve Bank of India`s final guidelines to implement the Basel-III capital rules require banks to steadily build up their capital buffers through March 2018.

A statement from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) about slow economic recovery in the US and further escalation of financial crisis in Europe adversely impacted the market. Two-wheeler giant Hero MotoCorp was the top loser from the Sensex pack, falling 9.28 per cent, even the company posted 20.33 per cent increase in net profit for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2012. As a result, other auto stocks like Tata Motor, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto and M&M also finished with marked losses.