Sensex Closes 306 Points Lower, Nifty Settles At 10,430; HPCL, Vedanta Slump

The BSE Sensex shed 306 points on Wednesday to close at 34,344, dragged lower by metal and energy stocks. National Stock Exchange (NSE) benchmark index Nifty settled at 10,430, down 106 points. Shares in state-run oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation came under pressure amid concerns that the government may ask them to share the burden of rising petrol and diesel prices. Thirty five stocks on the 50-scrip Nifty index finished in the negative zone.