Buy or sell stocks, May 21 -- Following reports of increasing COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asian countries, the Indian stock market witnessed a sharp correction on Tuesday. The Nifty 50 index finished 261 points lower at 24,683. The BSE Sensex crashed 872 points and closed at 81,186. The Bank Nifty index ended 543 points lower at 54,877. Nifty Midcap100 and Smallcap100 indices closed weak, forming bearish "Engulfing" candlestick patterns. Midcap 100 fell 1.62% while Smallcap 100 dropped 0.94%. Market breadth turned negative after six consecutive positive days, with the BSE advance-decline ratio at 0.58.

All sectoral indices closed in red, with Auto, Healthcare, Media, and Pharma experiencing the heaviest losses. Auto stocks were particula...