Sensex drops 0.77% as RBI rate cut sparks growth concerns

By Reuters

  • 07 Aug 2019
Credit: Reuters

Indian shares ended lower on Wednesday, after the country’s central bank announced an unconventional 35 basis-point cut in interest rates, signalling concerns over growth outlook for Asia’s third-biggest economy.

The six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India or RBI cut the repo rate to 5.40%, just above a 25 basis-point cut predicted by 80% of the 66 analysts polled by Reuters last month.

The broader NSE index ended 0.85% lower at 10,855.5, while the benchmark BSE index closed down 0.77% at 36,690.5.

The public sector bank index was the worst performer for the session, with its index closing down 3.4%, while the metals index ended 2.4% lower.

Indiabulls Housing Finance ended 13.4% in the red, while Zee Entertainment closed 2.9% higher.