Banks, IT lift Sensex 355 points higher, Nifty atop 17,100; auto, pharma dip


The Sensex and Nifty ended higher for the second straight trading session on Friday backed by renewed buying interest in IT and banking stocks. Realty shares too logged strong gains, while auto and pharma shares signed-off on a weak note.

The S&P BSE Sensex gyrated in a range of 675 points; the index from a high of 58,179 slipped into red to a low of 57,504. The BSE benchmark finally ended 355 points higher at 57,990.

The NSE Nifty 50 advanced 114 points as it reclaimed the 17,100 level.

The broader markets also finished with gains. The BSE Midcap index advanced 0.3 per cent, and the Smallcap index added 0.7 per cent.

Sectorally, the BSE Realty index soared 3.2 per cent and was the top gainer. The Metal index surged 2.4 per cent. The Bankex and IT index gained over a per cent each

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Sensex sheds 889 points, Nifty gives up 17k; RIL, financials weigh; Infy up 3%


Stocks across the board, barring the IT sector, witnessed significant selling pressure in trades on Friday as unwinding of global stimulus packages dented sentiment. That apart, unforseen threat from the Omicron virus and high inflation kept bulls at bay all through the day.

The BSE Sensex tanked to a low of 56,951, and evenutally settled with a heavy loss of 889 points at 57,012. In the process, the BSE benchmar ended the week with a significant loss of 3 per cent (1,775 points).

The NSE Nifty slumped to a low of 16,966, and finally ended with a loss of 263 points at 16,985.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries plunged 2.6 per cent to Rs 2,341, and alone accounted for a loss of 176 points on the BSE benchmark. That apart, the HDFC twins were the other major dragggers (223 points loss).

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Sensex ends at day’s low, down 746 points ; Bajaj Auto jumps 11%; RIL down 2%


Investors took some profit off the table on Friday after markets scaled historic levels a day before, when the S&P BSE Sensex surpassing the 50,000-mark for the first time. That said, investors rewarded stocks of the firms that delivered strong Q3FY21 results.

In the intra-day trade, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex plunged 790 points and hit a low of 48,835 levels. The index settled around day’s low level of 48,878 levels, down 746 points or 1.5 per cent. Financial bore the maximum brunt with Axis Bank declining 4.4 per cent on the Sensex, followed by SBI (3.5 per cent), ICICI Bank (3.7 per cent), and IndusInd Bank (3.5 per cent).

On the flipside, Bajaj Auto, HUL, TCS, Ultratech Cement, and Bajaj Finserv were the only gainers on the Sensex.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 settled at 14,372 levels, down 218 points or 1.5 per cent.

The broader markets, however, fared slightly better. The S&P BSE MidCap index ended 1.1 per cent lower at 18,777.46 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index closed at 18,442 levels, down 0.93 per cent.

Sectorally, most of the key indices settled lower. The Nifty Metal index underperformed the benchmark and closed 4 per cent lower. Among individual stocks, SAIL fell 14 per cent, JSPL slipped 8 per cent, and Hindustan Copper declined over 4 per cent.

That apart, Nifty Bank index tanked over 1,000 points, or 3.25 per cent, to close at 31,176 levels.

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Sensex ends 134 points lower, Nifty settles at 11,505; Nifty Pharma jumps 5%


Erasing all their morning gains, the benchmark indices ended in the negative territory on Friday due to selling in the financial counters.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended 134 points, or 0.34 per cent lower at 38,846 with HDFC Bank (down over 2 per cent) being the biggest loser and Bharti Airtel (up around 4 per cent) the top gainer. HDFC Bank, HDFC, Infosys, and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) were among the major contributors to the index’s loss.

NSE’s Nifty settled at 11,505, up 11 points, or 0.10 per cent. India VIX fell nearly a per cent to 19.93 levels.

Meanwhile, pharma stocks gained big in the trade. The Nifty Pharma index jumped 5 per cent to 12,321 levels with all the 10 constituents advancing. Dr Reddy’s hit a record high of Rs 5,496.95 during the trade after the company said it has settled its patent litigation with Celgene for the latter’s cancer drug capsules. The stock settled at Rs 5,306, up 10 per cent on the NSE.

Nifty Bank index fell 2%; RBL, Bandhan, HDFC Bank down over 3%. Bandhan Bank, RBL Bank, HDFC Bank, and IDFC First Bank were down 3 per cent, while Federal Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank, and IndusInd Bank from the index were down in the range of 1 per cent to 2 per cent on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

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Sensex slips 118 pts, Nifty ends at 11,922 in volatile trade


After reclaiming the crucial 40,000 and 12,000 levels, respectively in the early deals, the benchmark indices S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty50 index turned volatile in the afternoon session.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 39,714, down 118 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,923, down 23 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 132 points or 0.33 per cent lower at 39,700 levels while the NSE’s Nifty50 index was quoting 33 points or 0.28 per cent lower at 11,913 levels. Nifty Bank saw a swing of 1,200 points during the session. Volatility index India VIX was trading over 4 per cent higher at 16.24.

Sectorally, barring IT and FMCG counters, all the indices were trading in the red with the Nifty PSU Bank index taking the hardest knock, followed by media and realty stocks. The Nifty PSU Bank index was trading nearly 2 per cent lower at 3,232.50 levels.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index was trading flat at 15,070 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index was ruling at 14,876, down 88 points or 0.59 per cent.

Putting rest to all speculation, the President of India on Friday released the portfolio details of new Cabinet, a day after Narendra Modi took oath as the country’s 16th Prime Minister. There were expectations that Amit Shah, a seasoned stock broker and a key architect of NDA’s victory for the second consecutive time will be handed over reigns of the Finance Ministry. This is after Arun Jaitley expressed his desire to stay away from any role in the new government citing health reasons. However, Nirmala Sitharaman has been appointed the new Finance Minister, while Amit Shah will handle the Home Ministry. Smriti Irani, who was expected to be awarded handsomely for defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, has been made the Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Textiles.

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Sensex ends 373 points up as rupee recovers; PM eco meet eyed


The equity markets settled 1 per cent higher on Friday as the rupee recovered against the dollar.

The S&P BSE Sensex reclaimed the 38,000 mark to end at 38,091, up 373 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,515, up 145 points.

In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap settled 1.6 per cent higher and the S&P BSE SmallCap rose 1.4 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma index settled 2.5 per cent higher led by a rise in the share prices of Divi’s Laboratories and Piramal Enterprises. On the other hand, the Nifty Bank index rose 1.3 per cent led by YES Bank and IDFC Bank.

The rupee strengthened by over 60 paise to 71.58 against the US dollar in intra-day trade. On Wednesday, the domestic currency rebounded from its historic low of 72.91 to end higher by 51 paise at 72.18 against the dollar.

This apart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with finance ministry officials later in the day to discuss the fall in the rupee and other economic issues. Rupee is Asia’s weakest currency in 2018, down more than 12 percent on a widening current account deficit and higher oil prices.

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Sensex settles 284 points higher as banks, FMCG stocks rally


The benchmark indices settled higher on Friday taking cues from their Asian peers.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 37,948, up 284 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,471, up 86 points.

Among key stocks, the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) major ITC rose over 2 per cent to end at Rs 313 levels on the BSE. The stock hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 315 earlier today. ICICI Bank and State Bank of India also ended higher in a range of 1.8 to 3.0 per cent on the BSE.

Among sectors, the Nifty Pharma index ended higher for the fourth straight day, hitting an over six-month high on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Lupin, Aurobindo Pharma and Cadila Healthcare from the index, were up in the range of 1 per cent to 4 per cent on the NSE.

Shares of paper companies were trading higher on the bourses on expectations of a positive outlook for the current July-September quarter.

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Infy ends 2% higher on Friday ahead of Q1 results; Sensex ends flat


The benchmark indices pared their day’s gains to end flat on Friday.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 36,542, down 7 points. The index had hit a fresh all-time high of 36,740.07 in intra-day deals earlier today tracking global markets ahead of information technology (IT) heavyweight Infosys June quarter earnings later in the day. The broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,019, down 4 points.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty PSU Bank index fell over 2% weighed by a decline in Canara Bank and Indian Bank.

Shares of smallcap companies were under pressure with the S&P BSE Smallcap index falling more than 1% after a sharp decline in stock prices of PVR, KNR Constructions, Inox Leisure and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC).

Idea Cellular share price fell 2.7 per cent intraday on Friday after global research firm Credit Suisse maintained its Underperform rating on the stock with a target price at Rs 45, implying a 17 per cent downside. After the merger between the company and Vodafone, the new entity may prioritise cost savings over market share retention and the cost base should be close to current Bharti mobile cost base, the research house said.

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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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