Mumbai, Monday, March 22, 2010: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by over 240 points, or 1.37 per cent, in the opening trade today, snapping the four-session winning streak as investors sold stocks after the Reserve Bank raised its key short-term lending and borrowing rates.

The 30-share index, which gained nearly 412 points in the past four sessions, fell by 240.85 points to 17,337.38 points in the opening trade with all the sectoral indices trading in the negative.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dipped by 75.75 points, or 1.43 per cent to 5,187.05 points.

Brokers said RBI’s decision to raise key short-term lending and borrowing rates by 25 basis points each as part of its policy to tighten money supply to combat inflation, mainly led to the downfall in markets today.

(PTI)