Sensex below 16000 for first time in 15 months

New Delhi, August 19 (ANI): Following the panic selling driven by a meltdown in global markets, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex dipped below the 16,000 points level in afternoon trade on Friday for the first time in 15 months. The Sensex plunged by 481.01 points to 15,988.78 at 2,15pm today, on continued selling amid concerns over the faltering US economy and Europe's debt crisis, which could lead to a slowdown in global economic growth. At the same time, the National Stock Exchange Nifty index sank beneath the crucial 4,800 points level, losing 145.15 points to 4,799.The decline on the bourses for the second day in a row was broad based. The market sentiment was weak as global stocks fell on a fresh wave of concerns about global growth.