After witnessing volatile trades during the day, Indian share markets ended their session on a negative note. Losses were largely seen in the oil & gas sector, auto sector and capital goods sector, while IT stocks ended the day higher.

At the closing bell, the BSE Sensex stood lower by 219 points (down 0.6%) and the NSE Nifty closed lower by 59 points (down 0.6%). The BSE Mid Cap index ended the day down by 0.8%, while the BSE Small Cap index ended the day down by 0.9%.

Asian stock markets finished on a negative note as of the most recent closing prices. The Hang Seng was down 1.3% and the Nikkei stood lower by 0.8%.

The rupee was trading at 68.12 to the US$ at the time of writing.

In the news from the banking sector, Karnataka Bank share price was in focus today as the lender yesterday announced that it is planning to achieve a farm credit portfolio of Rs 90 bn for 2018-19.

As per the announcement, the bank will bestow a special focus to leverage these positives, and the management has advised the branches to focus on areas such as warehouse receipt finance, irrigation, farm mechanization, agricultural gold loan, crop loans, development loans and loans to agro-processing units for increasing the farm credit portfolio.

According to Mahabaleshwara MS, Managing Director and CEO of the bank, there are enough opportunities for financing in the agricultural sector following the government’s vision to double farmer’s income by 2022. As per him following modern agricultural practices will lead to an increase in productivity and the bank will be in the forefront in extending a helping hand to farmers for adopting new technologies.

Karnataka Bank share price closed the day down by around 1.6% on the BSE today.

Apart from Karnataka Bank, KRBL share price was also in focus today. Shares of the company plunged 20% in today’s trade after it was reported that former director Gautam Khaitan had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with AgustaWestland helicopter scam.