Market fall continues in second week; 63 small-cap stocks slip 10-22%

Market fall continues in second week; 63 small-cap stocks slip 10-22%

Market witnessed selling in the second straight week ended February 18 amid volatility on the back of Russia-Ukraine crisis led to rising crude oil prices and US Fed minutes indicating possibility of rate hikes sooner than expected.

BSE Sensex fell 319.95 points (0.55 percent) to end at 57,832.97, while the Nifty50 shed 98.45 points (0.56 percent) to close at 17,276.3 levels, last week.

Among sectors, Nifty PSU Bank index plunged 4.6 percent, Metal index shed 4 percent and Realty index fell 2.7 percent.

Broader indices underperformed main indices with BSE Midcap index fell 2 percent and Smallcap indices plunged 3.2 percent.

Some 63 small-cap stocks lost 10-22 percent. These include Axtel Industries, Syncom Formulations, Manappuram Finance, NRB Bearings, Mangalam Organics, Metropolis Healthcare, GRM Overseas, DB Realty, NLC India, Jindal Worldwide, Centum Electronics, Kuantum Papers, Jindal Poly Films, 63 Moons Technologies, Repco Home Finance and Bharat Road Network.

On the other hand, Sree Rayalaseema Hi Strength, TCPL Packaging, Excel Industries, Solara Active Pharma Sciences, Everest Industries, Eveready Industries India, Mirza International, Sandur Manganese, Vishnu Chemicals, RHI Magnesita India, Technocraft Industries (India) and Shree Pushkar Chemicals and Fertilisers rose 11-29 percent.

"Markets started the week with a sharp correction, however rebounded back and ended the week with