Stock markets closed lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark Sensex falling 429 points after two consecutive sessions of gains, as the Reserve Bank of India raised the key policy rate for the first time in nearly four years.

The 30-share benchmark index ended 72638.7 down by -429.11 points or by -0.59 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22603.05 down by -173.05 points or by -0.76 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 73018.82 and intraday low of 72468.72 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 22717.65 and intraday low of 22546.3

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 440.80,+2.21%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1833.00,+1.33%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1357.00,+1.15%), Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 964.10,+0.24%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 4380.00,-3.52%), Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Rs. 378.85,-2.21%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2370.00,-2.07%), Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 992.10,-2.06%), Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (Rs. 3699.00,-1.96%), among others.

Bankex index was at 62060.49 up by -57.85 points or by -0.09%. Union Bank of India (Rs. 173.00,+2.73%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 440.80,+2.21%), Punjab National Bank (Rs. 114.30,+2.05%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1357.00,+1.15%), Canara Bank (Rs. 119.00,+1.15%),.

Metal index was at 38922.57 down by -981.5 points or by -2.46%. National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 322.00,-4.39%), Adani Enterprises Ltd. (Rs. 2744.00,-3.72%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 912.00,-2.97%), JSW Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1227.10,-2.53%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 174.50,-2.38%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4842 , shares advanced were 2115 while 2480 shares declined and 247 were unchanged