Indices log biggest 1-day fall in 9 mths; Sensex sinks 1,939 points, holds 49K


A steep hike in US treasury yields took the global markets by surprise on Friday as investors dumped equities for bonds. That apart, an air strike by the United States in Syria on Thursday, targeting facilities near the Iraqi border, further dented trading sentiment.

US Treasury yields vaulted to their highest levels, of about 1.5 per cent, since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic on expectations of a strong economic expansion and related inflation. Back home, the 10-year goverment bond firmed up to 6.23 per cent on Friday mirrowing similar trends. Effectively, fear of reversal in rate cut cycle, spooked investors who off-loaded equities worth Rs 5 trillion.

Additionally, the US air strike in retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month, and caution ahead of the release of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the December quarter made investors sit on the fence.

In the intra-day trade, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex tumbled 2,149 points while the Nifty50 index slumped 629 points. The indices ended near the lowest point of the day, at 49,100 and 14,529 levels, respectively, down 1,939 points and 568 points.

All the 30 constituents on the Sensex index and 50 stocks on the Nifty ended the day in the red. ONGC, JSW Steel, GAIL, M&M, Bajaj Finance, Grasim, and Hero MotoCorp were the top Nifty losers, down up to 8 per cent; Axis Bank, HDFC, Power Grid, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank were the top drags on the Sensex.

In the broader markets, small-cap stocks held their ground relatively better as the S&P BSE SmallCap index settled only 0.7 per cent down. The S&P BSE MidCap index, on the the hand, ended 1.75 per cent lower.

On the sectoral front, banking counters got butchered as yield concerns soured sentiment in the sector. Expectations that banks may have to show yield-induced fall in G-sec value as losses, investors pushed the sell button for banks. The Nifty Bank, and Private bank indices closed 5 per cent down, followed by losses in the Nifty PSU Bank index, down 4.5 per cent.

The Nifty Metal and Auto indices dropped 3 per cent while the Nifty FMCG, IT, and Pharma indices slipped 2 per cent each.

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Sensex gains 197 points on Friday; RIL pips TCS to become most valued firm


The benchmark indices ended over 0.5 per cent higher led by a rise in the financial stocks and Reliance Industries (RIL).

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,457, up 197 points (0.56 per cent), while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,682, up 66 points (0.62 per cent). In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended flat at 14,998, while the S&P BSE SmallCap slipped 0.4 per cent to end at 14,486.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty PSU Bank index settled 2 per cent higher led by Oriental Bank of Commerce and Bank of India.

The rupee traded on a firm note on Friday rising to 71.71 per US dollar in intra-day trade, up from its previous close of 71.98 against the greenback.

Shares of RIL on Friday rose 2.7 per cent to Rs 1,127 on the BSE helping the oil-to-telecom major pip Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to become the most-valued company in terms of market capitalisation. On the BSE, RIL’s market capitalisation was at Rs 7,14,668.54 crore, while India’s largest IT firm by revenue TCS slipped to the second spot with a valuation of Rs 7,06,292.61 crore.

Shares of Rallis India, Deepak Fertilisers & Chemicals, Dixon Technologies (India), Hexaware Technologies, Take Solutions and BASF were among 22 stocks from the S&P BSE Allcap index hitting their respective 52-week lows on Friday in intra-day trade.

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Reblog: Nifty ends the week at 9,108; logs 1st weekly fall in March; banking stocks gain


The benchmark indices on Friday settled higher thanks to gains in banking stocks following news reports that the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has promised to offer a solution to the growing non-performing assets (NPA) crisis in next few days.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 29,421, up 89 points, while the broader Nifty50 settled at 9,108, up 22 points. Both the indices logged their first weekly loss in March, retreating from a record high hit last week.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap ended 0.1% down, while the S&P BSE Smallcap index gained 0.3%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, turned negative. On the BSE, 1,471 shares declined and 1,346 shares advanced. A total of 218 shares were unchanged.

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Markets settle on Friday flat ahead of Dec IIP data; TCS gains 2%


Benchmark indices settled the day flat even ahead of December factory output later today on hopes of reviving economy. The factory output grew by 5.7% in November even after the note ban announced by PM Narendra Modi.

 

Sentiment was also affected as Asian shares rallied to an 18-month peak on Friday, as investors cheered upbeat Chinese trade data.

 

Nifty 50 continued to hover around 8,800 levels, gaining for third consecutive week, led by TCS, Grasim, Tech Mahindra and Infosys.

 

The BSE Sensex index rose 0.4% this week while the NSE added 0.6% even after the RBI held rated for the second time and changed its stance to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Accomodative’
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Sensex ends lower on Friday, Nifty below 8,150; Bharti Airtel top loser


The benchmark indices ended the Friday’s session lower as markets looked to settle down after the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday issued an outlook that was more hawkish than expected.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 26,489, down 30 points, while the broader Nifty50 closed at 8,139, down 14 points.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, remained negative. On the BSE, 1,486 shares declined and 1,122 shares rose. A total of 167 shares were unchanged.

Bharti Airtel was the top loser and lost 3% on the BSE. Other losers included ONGC, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank and ITC.

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