Sensex snaps 2-day losing streak, ends 181 points up; PSBs rally


The domestic equity indices snapped out of a two-session losing streak to settle 0.5 per cent higher on Friday led by a rise in public sector banks and metal stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,695, up 181 points or 0.51 per cent, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,727, up 55 points or 0.52 per cent. On a weekly basis, the S&P BSE Sensex fell 1.05 per cent, while the Nifty 50 declined 1.22 per cent.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index rose 0.48 per cent or 72 points to end the day at 15,148, while the S&P BSE SmallCap settled at 14,592, up 0.14 per cent or 20 points on Friday.

Among sectors, the Nifty PSU Bank rose the most on Friday, gaining 2.32 per cent led by Syndicate Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and State Bank of India (SBI). Nifty Metal too, rose 1.40 per cent led by Jindal Steel & Power, Vedanta and Tata Steel.

The rupee traded on a firm note having risen to 69.75 against the US dollar in intra-day trade. The domestic unit had settled at 70.17 against the greenback on Thursday.

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Sensex slips 45 points, RIL falls 2.75%; Rupee hits all-time low


The benchmark indices ended flat on Friday amid weakness in the rupee, which hit a new low breaching 71 per dollar mark for the first time earlier today.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 38,645, down 45 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,680, up 4 points.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma index rose 2.7 per cent led by a rise in Lupin and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. The Nifty IT index, too, settled 1.8 per cent higher led by Tech Mahindra and MindTree. However, Nifty Bank index slipped 0.15 per cent due to a fall in YES Bank’s shares.

The rupee slumped to a fresh record low of 71 against the dollar for the first time ever by falling 26 paise on persistent demand for the US currency amid rising crude prices. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the local currency opened lower at 70.95 a dollar and slipped further to hit its lifetime low of 71 from its previous close of 70.74.

J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals rose 1.51% to Rs 342.20 on BSE after the company’s board of directors the buy-back of equity shares. The announcement was made during market hours today, 31 August 2018.

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Sensex ends on Friday 19 pts down, Nifty at 10,768; Sun Pharma up 8%


Benchmark indices trimmed their morning losses and ended flat on Friday even as yields on the 10-year government bonds hit over 8% in the opening session today, first time since May 2015, but soon declined.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,444, down 19 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,768, down 1 points.

Among individual stocks, Sun Pharma surged over 8%, while Dr. Reddy ended nearly 5% higher on the BSE.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma index rose 4.26% today led by a rise in the shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Lupin and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

Investors also continued to react to Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) first rate hike since 2014, while maintaining a neutral stance.

Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) have moved higher by 1.5% to Rs 986 per share, rebounding 2.6% from their intra-day low of Rs 961 on the BSE.

Shares of select public sector undertaking (PSU) banks were quoting higher for the third straight trading day ahead of Finance Minister Piyush Goyal’s meeting on Friday with the chief executives of 15 public sector banks (PSBs) in Mumbai. Dena Bank, Uco Bank and Corporation Bank were up 5% each, while Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank, Andhra Bank and Allahabad Bank were up in the range of 3% to 4%. Shares of State Bank of India (SBI) however, trading 0.17% lower at Rs 269 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

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Surgical strikes across the LoC spook the sensex


After witnessing a sharp fall on Thursday due to geo-political concerns, markets rebounded and ended flat on the first day of October series despite weak global cues.
The S&P BSE Sensex ended up 38 points to settle at 27,866 and the Nifty50 settled 20 points higher at 8,611. In the broader market, both the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices outperformed the front-liners with gains of 2% each.
On Thursday, markets ended at their lowest closing levels since August 26, 2016 as risk-aversion prevailed following September F&O expiry and concerns over foreign capital outflows amid geo-political tensions arising between India and Pakistan after the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes across LoC in Pakistan on Wednesday night.
Top gainers from the Sensex pack included GAIL, M&M, ONGC, Power Grid and Tata Steel, all surging between 1%-3%. On the losing side, Cipla, ITC, Coal India, Bharti Airtel and HUL slipped between 1%-3%.