Forex traders said rising Brent crude prices and a firm US currency also weighed on the local unit...

A further leg-up came from reports of the central government preparing fresh stimulus measures to cope with the economy post lockdown...

In India, too, there is uncertainty as to what will happen after April 14 when the national lockdown is lifted...

The NSE Nifty tanked 343.95 points, or 4 per cent, to close at 8253.80...

The NSE Nifty rose 316.65 points, or 3.82 per cent, to close at 8597.75...

In worst case, it may breach the 80-mark to the dollar should the current disruption in the economy lasts beyond a quarter...

The BSE gauge, Sensex, surged 1410.99 points, or 4.94 per cent, to close at 29946.77...

In Italy, the epicentre of the virus in Europe, 10-year borrowing costs were unchanged at 1.59%...

On the BSE, the Sensex soared 1861.75 points, or 6.98 per cent, to end at 28535.78...

The 30-share BSE Sensex settled at 26674.03 — marking a gain of 692.79 points, or 2.67%...