The Sensex closed today (9th March 2020) at 35634.95. This is 5.17% down from its previous close. This is the 50th biggest intraday fall for the Sensex. Some articles have a misleading headline about this as the biggest fall! An analysis of falls as big or more than today.
It is also another 12/15 sequence. That is 12 negative closing out of the last 15 days. From 28th Feb 2020, this is the sixth such 12/15 sequence! This is the full list of the 50 biggest falls in Sensex history. Today’s fall is the 50th highest.
| Date | Daily returns |
| 08-Jan-82 | -7.21% |
| 16-Aug-85 | -5.70% |
| 30-Sep-85 | -5.82% |
| 07-Mar-86 | -5.34% |
| 11-Oct-90 | -5.58% |
| 15-Oct-90 | -8.74% |
| 22-Oct-90 | -6.70% |
| 12-Nov-90 | -7.11% |
| 29-Nov-90 | -5.90% |
| 18-Dec-90 | -6.46% |
| 07-Mar-91 | -7.62% |
| 10-Mar-92 | -6.53% |
| 28-Apr-92 | -12.77% |
| 29-Apr-92 | -5.71% |
| 06-May-92 | -8.41% |
| 11-May-92 | -6.50% |
| 12-May-92 | -9.76% |
| 15-Jul-92 | -5.44% |
| 10-Dec-92 | -5.44% |
| 01-Mar-93 | -7.63% |
| 09-Mar-93 | -5.45% |
| 16-Jan-97 | -5.23% |
| 31-Mar-97 | -8.26% |
| 15-Jun-98 | -5.81% |
| 05-Oct-98 | -7.23% |
| 17-Apr-99 | -6.88% |
| 04-Apr-00 | -7.15% |
| 17-Apr-00 | -5.63% |
| 02-May-00 | -6.13% |
| 24-Jul-00 | -6.17% |
| 22-Sep-00 | -5.28% |
| 13-Mar-01 | -6.03% |
| 14-Sep-01 | -5.27% |
| 17-Sep-01 | -5.27% |
| 21-Sep-01 | -5.85% |
| 14-May-04 | -6.10% |
| 17-May-04 | -11.14% |
| 18-May-06 | -6.76% |
| 21-Jan-08 | -7.41% |
| 17-Mar-08 | -6.03% |
| 06-Oct-08 | -5.78% |
| 10-Oct-08 | -7.07% |
| 15-Oct-08 | -5.87% |
| 17-Oct-08 | -5.73% |
| 24-Oct-08 | -10.96% |
| 11-Nov-08 | -6.61% |
| 07-Jan-09 | -7.25% |
| 06-Jul-09 | -5.83% |
| 24-08-2015 | -5.94% |
| 09-03-2020 | -5.17% |
Notice that last biggest fall came in Aug 2015 and before that in July 2009. The Sensex movement corresponding to these falls is shown below.
Falls of much bigger magnitude than today occurred much more frequently up to 2009. More such falls now and then is perhaps necessary to remind investors of stock market volatility. Interesting days ahead!
We will talk about a plan of action during the current times in a detailed article. Before such time, you can consult:
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