Sensex, Nifty edge lower as coronavirus continues to spread

 Indian shares edged lower on Wednesday as coronavirus cases continued to rise in Asia’s third-largest economy during an ongoing nationwide lockdown.

The broader NSE Nifty 50 index was down 1.74% at 8,448.15 by 0400 GMT and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex also fell 1.74% to 28,956.45.

India had 1,238 active coronavirus cases and 35 deaths from the infection as of Tuesday evening. Ratings agency S&P Global on Monday cut its estimate for the country’s economic growth for the full-year ending in 2021 to 3.5% from 5.2%.