Sensex crashes, down 492 points at close

A key index of the Indian equities markets crashed Monday to shut shop 492 points below its last closing figure.

The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened at 15,153.21 points, closed at 14,611.32 points (provisional), 492.23 points or 3.26 percent lower than Friday's close.

Like the Sensex, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too fell, shedding 3.86 percent from its last close to stand at 4,409.8 points.

Profit booking hurt several lesser scrips, with broader market indices taking more of a beating than the Sensex.

The BSE midcap index fell 5.85 percent from its previous close, while the BSE smallcap index was down 6.06 percent.