Sensex crashes by over 1,100 points as virus fears threaten global growth

Equity indices crumbled during early hours on Friday as global share prices headed for the worst week since the world financial crisis and investors readied for the coronavirus to become a pandemic. At 10 am, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 1,140 points or 2.87 per cent to 38,605 while the Nifty 50 dipped by 353 points or 3.03 per cent at 11,280. All sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the red with Nifty metal down by 4.6 per cent, realty by 3.89 per cent, IT by 3.36 per cent and pharma by 2.32 per cent.