Sensex, Nifty end flat post volatile trade; ITC up 2%; Maruti, RIL dip 1%


Equity markets remained listless on Friday, swinging occasionally between gains and losses, as lack of domestic and global cues kept investors on the sideline. The S&P BSE Sensex settled today’s session 37 points, or 0.06 per cent, higher at 58,803. The NSE Nifty50, meanwhile, shut shop at 17,539, down 3 points or 0.02 per cent.

The broader markets, however, exhibited a strong show during the end but ended mixed. The BSE MidCap index dipped 0.35 per cent while the BSE SmallCap index eked out gains of 0.04 per cent.

Among sectors, the Nifty Financial Services and FMCG indices added 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively, while the Nifty PSU Bank index fell 0.77 per cent.

Shares of Adani Enterprises hit a record high of Rs 3,369 after they gained 4 per cent on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Friday’s intra-day trade. The spurt comes after the NSE announced the company’s inclusion in the benchmark Nifty 50 index.

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Sensex slips 102 points, Nifty holds 18,100; ITC drops 3%; IRB Infra zooms 20%


Financial shares came to the rescue of the benchmark indices for the second straight day, as select index heavyweights weighed under selling pressure.

The BSE benchmark index, the Sensex, opened 120-odd points higher at 61,044, and rallied to a high of 61,420 on the back of fresh buying in early trades. Selling pressure re-emerged in second half of the trading session, with ITC, technology and metal stocks leading the fall. The BSE 30-share index slid to a low of 60,551 – down 869 points from the day’s high.

The Sensex eventually ended with a minor loss of 100 points at 60,822. The NSE Nifty from a high of 18,314, dropped to a low of 18,034, and finally settled 63 points lower at 18,115. The India VIX declined 1.8 per cent to 17.70.

Among sectors, the Bank Nifty rallied to a fresh all-time high at 40,587, and ended 0.7 per cent higher at 40,315. The Realty index surged 2.4 per cent to 509.75. On the flip side, the NSE Metal index tumbled over 3 per cent to 5,686. The Media index shed 2.3 per cent, while the ITC and Pharma indices were down 1.5 per cent each.

In the broader markets, the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were down over a per cent each. The overall breadth too was fairly negative, with 1,967 declining stocks versus 1,327 advancing shares on the BSE.

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Sensex ends 174 points up, Nifty near 15,800; IT, pharma indices hit new peaks


Market bulls rode the global momentum on Dalal Street on Friday, hitting new lifetime highs on the way. Bond yields in the US and Euro zone fell, with German 10-year yields set for their biggest fall this year, as investors bet on ultra-lose monetary policy to stay in place.

Backed by firm global cues, the frontline S&P BSE Sensex hit an all-time-high of 52,641.5 while the broader Nifty50 index claimed 15,835.5-mark in morning deals. In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices, too, touched new peaks of 23,045 and 25,249 levels, respectively.

That said, a fag-end weakness in banking, realty, and FMCG counters dragged the markets off highs. By close, the BSE barometer was at 52,475 levels, up 174 points or 0.33 per cent while the 50-share Nifty index ended at 15,799 levels, up 62 points or 0.39 per cent.

The BSE MidCap index, on the other hand, closed 0.14 per cent up while the BSE SmallCap index ended 0.4 per cent higher.

Sectorally, the Nifty Metal index zoomed nearly 3 per cent on the NSE, followed by the Nifty IT and Pharma indices, up over 1 per cent higher each. On the downside, the Nifty Realty and PSU Bank indices slipped up to 1 per cent.

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