Sensex sheds 867 points, Nifty 272 points; IT, financials crack; ITC bucks trend


The key benchmark indices ended with significant losses amid a global market rout as record high inflation fueled fears of a faster rate hike, threatening the world economies.

The S&P BSE Sensex tumbled to a low of 54,587, and finally settled 867 points lower at 54,835. In the process, the BSE index was down 3.9 per cent (2,226 points) for the week. Similarly, the NSE Nifty plunged 272 points to 16,411, ending the week with a huge loss of 4 per cent.

Financial and IT shares bore the brunt of the selling pressure. Bajaj Finance slumped 4.8 per cent, while Bajaj Finserv tanked 3.5 per cent. Axis Bank shed 4 per cent. Nestle India too declined over 3 per cent.

Wipro, HDFC, Infosys, HDFC Bank, UltraTech Cement, Titan, TCS, IndusInd Bank and Asian Paints were the other major losers. Reliance Industries was down 0.6 per cent ahead of its Q4 numbers.

On the positive front, Tech Mahindra and PowerGrid Corporation rallied over 2 per cent each. ITC, SBI and NTPC were the other notable gainers.

The broader markets also ended with steep losses. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were down over 2 per cent each. The overall breadth too was fairly bearish, with more than 2,500 declining stocks versus 850 advancing shares on the BSE.

Sectorally, the BSE metal and realty indices slumped over 3 per cent each. The IT and Consumer Durables indices were the other major losers, down over 2 per cent each. The Auto, Bankex and Healthcare indices declined 1.7 per cent each.

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Sensex slips 129 points, Nifty ends at 11,073; RIL declines 2%


The domestic stock market ended Friday’s volatile session in the negative territory, weighed down by heavyweights Reliance Industries (RIL) and the HDFC twins. Weak global markets following disappointing US gross domestic product (GDP) data, too, dented investor sentiment.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended 129 points or 0.34 per cent lower at 37,607 while the Nifty50 index gave up the 11,100-mark to settle at 11,073, down 29 points or 0.26 per cent. India VIX declined nearly 3 per cent to 24 levels.

On a weekly basis, Sensex fell 1.36 per cent while NSE’s Nifty slipped 1 per cent.

Among individual stocks, shares of RIL ended 2 per cent lower at Rs 2,067 apiece on the BSE after the company reported a profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 8,542 crore against Rs 14,366 crore reported during the same quarter last year. The company’s net profit, however, rose about 31 per cent to Rs 13,233 crore against Rs 10,104 crore in the same quarter last year.

State Bank of India (SBI) ended over 2.6 per cent up at Rs 191.45 after the lender posted 36.8 cent rise in profit before tax (PBT) at Rs 5,559.7 crore for the quarter ended June 2020 (Q1FY21) on robust growth in net interest income.

The sectoral trend on the NSE was mixed. While pharma, PSU banks, and realty counters advanced, auto and private banks ended flat with negative bias. Nifty Pharma index gained the most – up 3.6 per cent to 11,148.90 levels.

In the broader market, the Nifty Smallcap 100 index gained over 0.8 per cent to 5,011 while the Nifty Midcap 100 closed 0.4 per cent higher at 15,471 points.

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Indices extend gains, Sensex up 524 points as RIL surges over 6%


Extending their rally into the second straight day, the benchmark indices ended Friday’s session with around 1.5 per cent gains, led by Reliance Industries (RIL) as the company announced it has become net debt-free, much before its original schedule of March 31, 2021. The stock rallied 6.5 per cent to end at Rs 1,764. In the process, the company scaled the market capitalisation of Rs 11 trillion.

The S&P BSE Sensex today gained 524 points or 1.53 per cent to settle at 34,732. Of 30 stocks on the index, 18 ended in the green and rest 12 in the red. Besides RIL, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, and Bharti Airtel were the major contributors to the index’s gains.

NSE’s Nifty50 ended at 10,244, up 153 points or 1.5 per cent with 33 constituents advancing, 16 declining and 1 remaining unchanged. Volatility index, India VIX, dipped over 5 per cent to 29.78 levels.

On a weekly basis, Sensex gained nearly 3 per cent while Nifty added 2.7 per cent.

Sectorally, all the indices except Nifty IT and Nifty Metal ended in the green. Nifty Realty index zoomed over 6 per cent to 29.78 levels. On the other hand, Nifty IT slipped 0.35 per cent to 14,500.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index gained 1.37 per cent to 12,804 while the S&P BSE SmallCap index rallied around 1.4 per cent to 12,277.

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Sensex slips 260 points; financials dip as RBI extends loan moratorium


The domestic equity market ended in the negative territory on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to cut the policy rate by 40 basis points from 4.4 per cent to 4 per cent to trim the impact of coronavirus on the economy. That apart, the central bank also extended the moratorium on loan repayments by three more months, resulting in sell-off in financial stocks.

Nifty Bank today tumbled nearly over 2.5 per cent to 17,279 levels while Nifty Private Bank declined around 3 per cent to 9,421.55 points, with 8 out of 10 constituents ending in the red.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex shed 260 points or 0.84 per cent to settle at 30,672.59. HDFC, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank contributed the most to the Sensex’s fall. On the other hand, IT majors, Infosys and TCS, supported the index.

NSE’s Nifty ended at 9,039, down 67 points or 0.74 per cent.

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RIL, HUL help Sensex end 199 points up; Nifty settles at 9,251


Benchmark indices once again failed to hold on to the day’s high levels on Friday and pared most of its gains at the end of the session, amid selling in financial, auto and metal stocks. However, oil-to-telecom behemoth Reliance Industries (RIL) and FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever (HUL) helped the indices to settle in the positive territory.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 31,642.70, up 199 points or 0.63 percent, with HUL (up nearly 5 percent) being the top gainer and NTPC (down nearly 4 percent) the biggest loser.

On the NSE, the benchmark Nifty ended at 9,251.50, up 52 points or 0.57 percent. Volatility index, India VIX, declined nearly 3.5 percent to 38.53 levels.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended flat at 11,423.81 while the S&P BSE SmallCap index slipped 0.45 percent to 10,638.70 levels.

Shares of Cyient were locked in a 10% lower circuit on lower-than-expected Q4 results. A combined 2.65 million equity shares had changed hands on the counter and there were pending sell orders for around 82,000 shares on the NSE and BSE. The stock of the IT consulting and software firm was trading close to its 52-week low of Rs 200 touched on April 28, 2020.

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Sensex up 36 points, Nifty ends at 11,899.50; Dish TV jumps 29%


Indices were highly volatile in the afternoon deals on Friday.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was trading at 40,075 level. IndusInd Bank was the top performer on the index, up 4 per cent, while YES Bank was trading over 6 per cent lower ahead of its Q2 results. On NSE, the Nifty50 was trading at 11,850-mark.

Sectorally, Nifty Auto and IT indices were trading in the red. NIfty ITl index was the top loser, down 0.35 per cent. On the upside, Nifty PSU Bank, and Realty indices were trading over 1 per cent higher.

In the broader market, both S&P BSE mid and small-cap indices were trading 0.3 per cent higher.

Bank of India, Dr Reddy’s Lab, JK Lakshmi Cement, and YES Bank are among the 33 companies scheduled to report their Q2 earnings on Friday.

Analysts expect Yes Bank to report a loss up to Rs 1,907.3 crore due to exposure to bankrupt companies like DHFL, McLeod Russel, and Cox & Kings. However, all eyes would be on the Board’s decision with regards to the receipt of a binding offer worth $1.2 billion by a global investor.

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Sensex ends at fresh closing high, up 251 pts, Nifty settles near 10,900


Benchmark indices ended at fresh closing highs for a third straight session on Friday, led by financial stocks amid improved investor sentiment after the government decided to cut tax rates on certain products and services.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,511, up 251 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,894, up 77 points.

ICICI Prudential Life said profit in Q3 grew by 0.5 percent to Rs 452.1 crore against Rs 450 crore reported in year-ago. Net premium income jumped 19.3 percent to Rs 6,795 crore from Rs 5,697 crore YoY.

PC Jeweller today reported 52 percent increase in its net profit at Rs 162.71 crore for the quarter ended December on higher sales and profit margins. The company, which has 84 retail jewelry stores across the country, had posted a net profit of Rs 106.97 crore in the year-ago period, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Private sector lender IDFC Bank said its profit for the quarter ended December 2017 declined 23.6 percent to Rs 146.1 crore, compared to Rs 191.3 crore in year-ago. Profitability was hit by lower net interest income, other income and operating income; but was largely supported lower provisions. Net interest income, the difference between interest earned and interest expended, fell 5 percent to Rs 495 crore compared to Rs 521 crore in year-ago. Asset quality worsened during the quarter. Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) as a percentage of gross advances were sharply higher at 5.62 percent against 3.92 percent in previous quarter and net NPA was also higher at 3.52 percent in Q3 against 1.61 percent in Q2FY18.

Kirloskar Oil Engines shares gained 3 percent after profit in Q3 increased 40.5 percent to Rs 39.5 crore from Rs 28.1 crore YoY. Revenue from operations rose 6.8 percent to Rs 684.6 crore while operating profit grew by 10.7 percent to Rs 64.1 crore and margin expanded 40 basis points to 9.4 percent.

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Friday Closing bell: Sensex up 250 pts, Nifty ends at record closing high; telecom, banks lead


Equity benchmarks closed sharply higher for the second consecutive session as investors cheered macro data and hopes raised for an early resolution to telecom NPAs post telecom deals.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 250.47 points at 32,432.69 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 71.10 points to 10,167.50.

The market breadth was weak as about 1,431 shares declined against 1,293 advancing shares on the BSE.

Bharti Airtel was up 6 percent, Tata Teleservices up 9 percent and Tata Communications up 2 percent after Airtel decided to buy consumer telecom business of Tata Sons. Bharti Infratel was up 3 percent.

Markets also got a boost after data showed inflation held steady, instead of accelerating as expected, raising tentative hopes the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would be less hawkish about interest rates.

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Nifty ends above 9,950, up 1% for the week; Sensex settles 161 pts higher


Benchmark indices rose on Friday and gaining for a third straight week after much weaker-than-expected economic growth data raised hopes the central bank would cut interest rates at its next policy meeting in October.

India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth slid to a three-year low of 5.7% in the quarter ended June, a marked slowdown from a 6.1% growth in the previous quarter.

However, India’s factory activity unexpectedly expanded in August, snapping back from a contraction the previous month, as disruptions stemming from confusion over GST eased.

Broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices with BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap up 0.9% and 0.8% respectively.

Shares of Gravita India touched 52-week high of Rs 134.65, rising 11% intraday on the back of strong Q1 numbers.

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