With the sentiment continuing to be down a day after the lacklustre interim budget, the BSE barometer fell below the psychologically important 9,000 level during the day.

However, it recouped a part of its losses to settle the day at 9,035.00, a loss of 270.45 points.

The bellwether index had nosedived by 329 points yesterday after the interim budget offered no sops for the industry. In two days of continuing losses, the Sensex has lost a massive nearly 600 points.

Marketmen said funds indulged in selling on concerns the government’s plan to borrow record amounts this fiscal year.

They said investors feared this may drive up interest rates and funding costs at companies.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dropped by 78 points to 2,770.50, after dipping to 2,757.30 on all round selling.

Among 30-share index, barring ITC, all others recorded small to notable losses. Reliance Industries fell for the second day in a row and closed the day lower by 3.90 per cent.