BSE Sensex and BSE Healthcare indices have declined sharply today in line with Asian markets on the second day of trading of the year 2016 due to lower manufacturing growth in China in December 2015. The Chinese manufacturing  Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for December declined to 48.2 compared with 48.6 last month. All Asian markets including China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India declined significantly. The trading in Chinese markets halted for the day due to fall in share prices by 7 per cent.

BSE Sensex opened today at 26116.52 points as against previous day close of 26160.90 points on the first day trading on January 1, 2016 and BSE Healthcare index opened at 16936.45 points as compared to previous close of 16944.55 points. BSE Sensex declined by 537.55 points to 25623.35 points Among the major indices of BSE Sensex like auto, bank, capital goods and healthcare declined sharply. S&P Bankex declined sharply by 504.49 points and closed at 18943.86 points whereas Auto index declined by 396 points to 18295.25 points. All segments of economy were under pressure  and moved down significantly as at the close of trading today.

BSE Healthcare index went down by 303.72 points and closed at 16640.83 points as major shares like DRL declined by Rs.48.90, Sanofi India by Rs.65.40, Lupin by Rs.47.70,  Aurobindo Pharma by Rs.42.30, Wockhardt by Rs.23.20, Sun Pharma by Rs.17.10, Piramal Enterprises by Rs.15.25, GSK by Rs.42.45, Cadila Healthcare by Rs.11 and IPCA by Rs.11.55 as against previous closing. Further, Ajanta Pharma, Apollo Hospitals, Dishman Pharma,  Natco Pharma, etc also declined sharply.

However, few shares like Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Jubilant Life Sciences, RPG Lifesciences, etc improved. Glenmark moved up by Rs.9.40, Jubilant by Rs.3.55 and RPG by Rs.6.10.