New Delhi, Aug. 22 -- After six consecutive sessions of gains, the benchmark indices succumbed to volatility on Friday, witnessing a sharp correction due to profit booking across segments amid mixed global cues. The decline reflected caution among market participants ahead of US Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium.

The Sensex fell over 600 points, or 0.74 per cent, touching an intraday low of 81,393, while the Nifty 50 dropped 0.76 per cent to the day's low of 24,893.

The muted performance of India Inc. in the June quarter, which failed to justify expensive valuations, combined with heavy selling by overseas investors, has pressured the indices. Weakening trade relations with the US, following the imposition o...