The Sensex today fell over 285 points to 18,684 points amid rising food inflation and fears of further hike in interest rates.

The Sensex had lost 182 points in the previous session, after the Reserve Bank of India had increased key rates for the seventh time since last March. Besides, investors and funds unwinding their pending positions on the last day of the current month’s settlement in the derivatives segment also affected the trading sentiment. The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty closed 83 points down to 5,604 points.