Rate cut fails to hold up markets; Sensex dips 1,310 points from day’s high


Equity market ended Friday’s highly volatile session on a subdued note even as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in an emergency move, slashed the repo rate by a huge 75 basis points (bps) to arrest the potential downturn in the economy due to coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. In addition, the RBI imposed a moratorium on principal and interest payments for three months and told banks and non-banking finance companies that that non-payment won’t be considered as non-performing assets (NPA).

The S&P BSE Sensex closed at 29,816, down 131 points or 0.44 per cent, with Axis Bank (up 5 per cent) being the top gainer and Bajaj Finance (down 9 per cent) the worst performer. Besides Bajaj Finance, stocks that contributed the most to the Sensex’s fall were Bharti Airtel (down 6 per cent), HUL (down 3 per cent), and HDFC Bank (down 1 per cent).

NSE’s frontline index Nifty50 ended at 8,660, up 19 points or 0.22 per cent.

On a weekly basis, Sensex slipped 0.33 per cent while Nifty fell 0.97 per cent.

On the sectoral front, auto stocks slipped the most, thus snapping their three-day gaining streak. The Nifty Auto index ended around 2.5 per cent lower at 4,939 levels. On the other hand, private banks gained the most with the Nifty Private Bank index ending 1.72 per cent higher at 10,738 levels.

Volatility index India VIX eased 0.77 per cent to 70.97 levels.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended at 10,538, up 0.29 per cent while the S&P BSE SmallCap index ended 0.28 per cent higher at 9,497 levels.

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Sensex ends 361 pts higher ahead of exit polls outcome


Snapping their three-day losing streak, the benchmark indices settled around 1 per cent higher on Friday ahead of the outcome of state exit polls due later in the day.

That apart, market will also closely watch the outcome of OPEC-Russia meet, which is expected to come later in the day.

The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 361 points or 1.02 per cent to settle at 35,673 while NSE’s Nifty50 index added 93 points or 0.87 per cent to end at 10,694.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Bank index rose 1.5 per cent led by a rise in ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. The Nifty Auto index, too, rose 0.9 per cent led by Bajaj Auto and Maruti Suzuki.

In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap index rose 0.2 per cent to end at 14,717, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index slipped 0.3 per cent to 14,105.

On the political front, market participants are awaiting exit poll results of five state elections due after market hours today. The result of the assembly elections will likely set the tone for the general elections next year.

The rupee traded on a firm note during the day rising to 70.45 against the US dollar amid fall in oil prices ahead of the crucial OPEC meet outcome. The domestic unit on Thursday closed at 70.90.

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Sensex ends on Friday 509 pts lower, Nifty slips over 1%; Nifty Metal index down 2%


The market ended lower amid political upheaval after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) formally decided to quit the NDA government.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 33,176, down 510 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,195, down 165 points.

Among sectors, metal companies were under pressure falling by over 2% on the NSE on fears that the tariffs could disrupt growth. SAIL, Vendanta, Hind Copper were trading lower in the range of 3% to 5% on the NSE.

Shares of Tata Motors, Tata Motors DVR, Force Motors, BEML, ICRA, Great Eastern Shipping Company and Max Financial Services were among nine stocks from the S&P BSE 500 index hitting their respective fresh 52-week lows in noon deal on the BSE.

Ramky Infrastructure has been awarded project worth Rs 939.41 crore in Srinagar in the State of Jammu & Kashmir by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on EPC mode. The stock gained 1.5 percent.

Shares of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories declined 3 percent as it has received Form 483 with 4 observations for its API Hyderabad Plant 1 at Jinnaram Mandal, Medak Telengana from USFDA.

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Sensex tanks 316 pts, Nifty ends below 10150 as Q2 GDP fails to lift spirit


In a volatile trading session on Friday, the benchmark indices ended lower with the Nifty50 settling the first day of December expiry below 10,200 as economic growth data came in largely as expected, failing to boost a market weighed down by concerns about the country’s fiscal deficit and global risk factors such as rising crude prices.

Data late on Thursday showed India’s gross domestic product grew 6.3% in July-September, in line with expectations, as businesses started to overcome troubles after the bumpy launch of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The data failed to lift sentiment as country’s fiscal deficit reached 96% of the budgeted target for the fiscal year ending in March 2018, sending shares sharply lower on Thursday.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is meeting next week at a time of rising concern about a rally in crude prices, which rose following OPEC’s decision to extend production curbs.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 32,832, down 316 points, while the broader Nifty50 settled at 10,121, down 104 points.

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Markets end positive for 7th straight session, up over 1% for the week


Benchmark indices ended positive for a seventh straight session on Friday led by IT firms, while bonds dipped on market talk of a potential sovereign ratings upgrade by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) later in the day.

Speculation about an S&P rating upgrade on India surfaced late on Thursday. This comes after a surprise upgrade by Moody’s last week.

Foreign investors have net bought $2.33 billion worth of Indian shares in November so far.

The S&P BSE index ended the day at 33,679, up 91 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,389, up 40 points. Infosys, Bajaj Auto, GAIL and Aurobindo Pharma were the top gainers, while BHEL, SBI, Hindalco and Vedanta were the top losers.

The S&P BSE Midcap and the S&P BSE Smallcap indices hit their respective new high on the BSE on Friday, following an extending rally in infrastructure, auto ancillary, education, textiles and public sector banks.

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In first trading session of Samvat 2074, Sensex dives 194 points


Trading in Samvat 2074 got off to a rocky start, with the benchmark indices ending more than half a % lower and gauge for banking stocks dropping 1.25%. The BSE Sensex on Thursday fell 194.4 points, or 0.6% to close at 32,390, the Nifty 50 index fell 64.3, or 0.63% to close at 10,147.

The fall in the market was on account of a global sell-off which saw the Hong Kong market tumble the most this year and the European equities fall the most in two months. Market players said some domestic investors also resorted to profit-booking after a healthy 18% rally in the just-concluded Samvat 2073.

The BSE Bankex fell 1.3%, with ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank declining 2%, 1.6% and 1% respectively. These three stocks accounted for half of the fall in the benchmark Sensex.

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Nifty settles below 9,800, down over 1.5% for the week; Sensex ends flat


Benchmark indices pared gains to end flat, losing over 1.5% in the week on foreign fund outflows amid worries that the government may widen its fiscal deficit target of 3.2% of gross domestic product for the year ending in March 2018 to boost an economy that grew at a slower pace than expected.

Broader markets outperformed benchmark indices with BSE Midcap and BSE smallcap indices gaining 0.8% and 1% respectively. Both indices ended over 1% for the week

Foreign investors net selling equities worth $1.1 billion during the month. They had sold worth $2 billion in shares in August.

Bajaj Auto, Adani Ports, GAIL and Eicher Motors gained the most on both indices, while HUL and Wipro were the top losers.

Realty firm Godrej Properties today said it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Royale Builders and Developers to develop a 13-acre group housing project in north Bengaluru.

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As markets end flat, over 70 stocks hit fresh 52-week highs


The Indian market ended the truncated week on a sombre note, posting mild gains on both indices. Strong movements by Infosys and pharmaceutical stocks helped the Street, but selling in HDFC group stocks, FMCG stocks capped upside.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 28.05 points at 31,596.06 and the 50-share NSE Nifty gained 4.55 points at 9,857.05.

The market was closed on Friday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi.

The broader markets outperformed benchmark indices as the BSE Midcap index gained 0.8 percent and Smallcap was up 0.4 percent on positive breadth. About five shares advanced for every four shares falling on the BSE.

However, among these times, there were over 70 stocks which had a good day and clocked fresh 52-week high milestones. Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Holding, Chennai Petro, Deepak Fertilisers, Avenue Supermarts, Indiabulls Housing Finance, IndusInd Bank, JSW Steel, and Tata Steel, among others, were in that list of gainers.

Meanwhile, there were 28 stocks that also hit fresh all-time highs, thereby increasing investor wealth. Bajaj Finserv, Deepak Fertilisers, Avenue Supermarts, IndusInd Bank and Heritage Foods, among others were a part of this list.

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Sensex ends 270 points lower, Nifty below 9,850 as Infosys cracks 9%


The Sensex settled at 31,524, down 270 points, while the broader Nifty50 quoted 9,837, down 66 points at close. The BSE Midcap index settled 0.1% lower, while BSE Smallcap index shed 0.5%.

The benchmark indices snapped a three-session long winning streak, as Infosys cracked after Vishal Sikka’s resignation as MD & CEO, although rivals such as Tata Consultancy Services gained.

According to a BSE filing, Sikka will be Executive Vice-Chairman while UB Pravin Rao is the Interim-MD and CEO.

Infosys saw its sharpest decline since April 12, 2013, down 9.6% to Rs 923. In intraday trade, the stock fell as much as 13% to Rs 884.

But the domestic markets still logged their sixth weekly gain in seven, though they remained below the record highs hit on August 2.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,534 shares declined and 1,002 shares rose. A total of 122 shares remained unchanged.

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