Nifty, Sensex fall as rising virus cases add to global worries
A broker reacts while trading at his computer terminal at a stock brokerage firm in Mumbai, India, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/Files
Indian shares fell on Monday as a rise in domestic coronavirus cases and worries over a second wave of infections in China sapped investors’ appetite for riskier assets.
As of Sunday, COVID-19 cases in India had surged well past 320,900 and deaths neared 9,200. India is the fourth-worst affected country in the world.
Beijing also recorded dozens of new cases in recent days, all linked to a major wholesale food market, raising concerns about a resurgence of the disease.
The NSE Nifty 50 index .NSEI fell 0.83% to 9,887.55 by 0346 GMT, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex .BSESN was down 0.86% at 33,484.17.
India’s government said on Sunday it would provide New Delhi’s city authorities with 500 railway coaches that will be equipped to care for coronavirus patients, after a surge in the number of cases led to a shortage of hospital beds.
Meanwhile, Asian shares stumbled on Monday and oil prices slipped on fears of the second wave.
