Sensex ends 429 points lower, Nifty at 22,603 after RBI rate hike

Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Wednesday after the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%. Sensex fell 429.11 points, or 0.59%, to 72,638.70, while Nifty dropped 173.05 points to 22,603.05. Analysts said the rate hike and calibrated tightening signal a stricter policy stance.