As the benchmark indices fell to their six-and-half month low, almost all sectoral indices followed suit. The selloff was more prominent in the broader markets as some sectoral indices eroded faster than even the benchmark indices.

BSE Realty index lost the most, paring 965.33 points or 11.59% to close at 7,362.42 points and was followed by BSE Metal index, which shed 1,314.95 points or 8.38% to end the day at 14,373.96 points. Even consumer durables companies and power sector stocks succumbed to the selling pressure with BSE consumer durables falling 328.90 points or 7.83% to close at 3,872.64 points. The BSE Power index plunged by 205.42 points or 6.28% to close at 3,063.99 points.

Shahina Mukadam, head of equity research at IDBI Capital Markets, said, ?Today?s selloff was mainly at good volumes, so markets are slipping due to lack of new commitments rather than actual selling pressure. The major sectoral indices like Realty, Metals and Consumer Durables, which were severely battered on Thursday, are the same sectors which performed extremely well last year. So, investors continued to book profits in these sectors.?

Some experts also said that Thursday?s selloff was mainly contributed by investors who put in their money after the meltdown, thinking that valuations wereright and as the markets continued to fall, they got panic-stricken and sold their holdings, which mainly comprised Small and Mid cap stocks.

However, the sectors which were less hit were healthcare, auto and FMCG. Experts believe that stocks in these sectors are available at an attractive valuation and institutions did some value-picking in these indices, dealers said. Other sectoral indices fell in the range of 2% to 5%.

BSE Small and Mid Cap stocks took a severe beating as compared to other broader indices like BSE-100, BSE-200 and BSE-500. BSE Small Cap fell 456.74 points or 5.35% to close at 8,075.18 points while the BSE Mid Cap slipped 382.18 points or 5.53% to end the day at 6,257.67 points.

Among the group A and B stocks, around 347 stocks hit their lower circuit and only 39 stocks hit their upper circuit on Thursday.