India's benchmark stock index plunges 7.1 percent amid worries about US economy

India's benchmark index plunged 7.1 percent Monday, its second-biggest percentage loss ever, amid a regional market sell-off sparked by worries that the U.S. economy may enter a recession.

The 30-company benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, fell 1,482.05 points _ its biggest point drop ever _ to 17,531.65 points. At one point, it was down nearly 11 percent before recovering some.

Its biggest percentage drop was on May 17, 2004, when it fell 11.1 percent.

On the rival National Stock Exchange, the 50-share S&P Nifty index fell 491 points, or 8.6 percent, at 5,213.85.