Sensex up 200 points; financials, metals lead gainers


Markets started the July F&O series with impressive gains on Friday as hefty buying in metals, financials, and pharma sectors lifted indices for the second day. The Nifty PSU Bank index closed 2.7 per cent higher on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) amid renewed privatisation buzz and fund-raising by banks.

That apart, the Nifty Metal index zoomed 2.5 per cent after Russian government said it is preparing new export taxes from August 1 for steel products, nickel, aluminium and copper which will cost their producers $2.3 billion.

The Nifty Bank, Private Bank, Pharma, and auto indices, meanwhile, rose between 0.7 per cent and 1.6 per cent.

Overall, the frontline S&P BSE Sensex index added 226 points, or 0.43 per cent, to settle the session at 52,925 levels while the Nifty50 index shut shop at 15,863-mark, up 73 points or 0.46 per cent.

In the broader market, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices advanced 1 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively.

Tata Steel (up nearly 4 per cent), Axis Bank, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Hindalco, JSW Steel, Maruti Suzuki, and Coal India made it to the list of outperforming stocks in the large-cap segment while Vodafone Idea, Apollo Hospitals, SAIL, Ashok Leyland, Allcargo Logistics, Uttam Sugar Mills, and Ajmera Realty marched aheead in the broader market space.

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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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Nifty ends at new closing peak of 15,436; Sensex adds 308 points; RIL soars 6%


Bulls ruled on Dalal Street on Friday, the first day of the June F&O series, as a trinity of steady decline in Covid-19 cases, the announcement of unlock in the national capital, and $6 trillion fiscal stimulus in the US held up investor confidence.

The benchmark Nifty index scaled a fresh record peak of 15,469.6 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) today, surpassing its previous record peak of 15,432 hit on February 16. The index traded higher for the sixth consecutive session as India recorded its lowest daily count of new Covid-19 cases in 44 days. The country, on Thursday, logged 186,364 fresh virus cases while death remained above 3,500-mark.

Add to it, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced earlier on Friday that the national capital will begin to unlock from Monday and said that construction activities and factories will be reopened from May 31.

Reading these developments as the first step towards a gradual uptick in economic activities, benchmark indices zoomed to day’s high of 51,529 on the S&P BSE Sensex and record peak on the Nifty. By the close, the Sensex index was quoting at 51,423 levels, up 308 points or 0.6 per cent while the Nifty50 was at 15,436-mark, up 98 points or 0.64 per cent.

Reliance Industries was the biggest contributor towards the indices’ rally today after the stock clocked its sharpest intra-day rally in two months and zoomed 6.4 per cent. The stock, which settled 5.8 per cent higher on the BSE, looks firm on both, fundamental and technical, grounds. Analysts at Jefferies maintained their ‘buy’ rating on the counter with a target of Rs 2,580 per share. READ MORE

That apart, Grasim, Adani Ports, M&M, Eicher Motors, Coal India, HDFC, Kotak Bank, and IndusInd Bank remained the top gainers of the day, up between 1 per cent and 3 per cent. On the downside, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, NTPC, PowerGrid, Shree Cement, and Nestle India were the top laggards, down up to 4.5 per cent.

Broader markets, however, settled the day in the red on the back of profit-booking. The BSE Midcap index fell 0.12 per cent and the BSE SmallCap index dropped 0.48 per cent.

In terms of sectoral participation, the Nifty PSU Bank index gained 0.7 per cent, followed by the Nifty Private Bank index, up 0.3 per cent. On the contrary, the Nifty Pharma index slipped 1.2 per cent on the NSE.

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Banks lift indices to 10-wk high; Sensex ends 976 points up, Nifty at 15,175


Benchmark indices built on gains clocked through the day and ended nearly 2 per cent higher on Friday after India’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India, reported a healthy quarterly show. The lender’s net profit zoomed over 80 per cent to Rs 6,451 crore in Q4FY21 as it set aside lower provisions and expected asset quality to improve going forward.

Supported by rally in other financial stocks, the BSE barometer of 30-shares ended at 50,540 levels, up 976 points or 1.9 per cent. On NSE, the Nifty50 index advanced 269 points to settle above the crucial level of 15,150-level at 15,175. Both the indices hit their respective highs of 50,591 and 15,190.

SBI was the second best gainer on the Sensex, up 4 per cent, while IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC, and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the other top gainers, up between 3 per cent and 4.5 per cent. All these stocks contributed nearly 680 points towards the Sensex’s total gains.

On the downside, Dr Reddy’s Labs and Power Grid on the Sensex, and Eicher Motors, Indian Oil Corporation, Grasim, and SBI Life on the Nifty were the only only laggards on the indices, down up to 0.3 per cent.

Financial indices — Nifty Bank, Private Bank, PSU Bank, and Financial Services — outperformed on the NSE today, and gained between 3-3.5 per cent. Meanwhile, all other sectoral indices settled up to 1 per cent higher.

In the broader markets, the S&P BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices underperformed the benchmarks today and ended 0.8 per cent and 0.65 per cent higher, respectively.

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Sensex gives up 51K amid broad-based sell-off, dips 435 points; PSBs, auto hit


Extending their decline into fourth straight day, benchmark indices ended the week with over 1 per cent cut on the back of losses in Eicher Motors (7 per cent), Nestle India (5.3 per cent), Divis Labs (5.4 per cent), and Cipla (5 per cent).

On Friday, though, the frontline S&P BSE Sensex nurses losses of 435 points, or 0.85 per cent, to end the day at 50,890 levels. In the intra-day trade, the index tanked 800 points from the day’s high to hit a low of 50,624. Only 11 of the 30 constituents ended the day in green with ONGC (down 5 per cent), SBI and Axis Bank (down 3.5 per cent each), ICICI Bank (3 per cent), Baja Auto (2.6 per cent), and Maruti Suzuki (2 per cent) being the top losers.

Gains in Dr Reddy’s Labs (2.3 per cent), IndusInd Bank (2 per cent), HUL (1.7 per cent), and RIL (0.7 per cent) trimmed losses.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 index gave up the 15,000-mark and settled at 14,982 levels, down 137 points or 0.9 per cent. It hit an intra-day low of 14,898.

The broader markets, too, gave up their winning ways today and ended in the red. The S&P BSE MidCap index underperformed on the BSE and 1.7 per cent down today. The SamllCap counterpart, meanwhile, settled at 0.7 per cent down.

Sectorally, none of the indices ended in the green zone today. The Nifty PSU bank index ended as the top laggard on the NSE, down 4.7 per cent, after surging nearly 6 per cent each over the past two days. That apart, Nifty Metal, Bankm and Auto indices skid 2 per cent each.

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Sensex ends 588 points lower at 46,285, down 5% in a week ahead of Budget 2021


Investors lightened their portfolios and decided to sit on cash on Friday as they await Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s third Union Budget presentation due on Monday, February 1. In a sea-saw trade today, stock specific moves swayed markets even as overall mood remained subdued.

At the index level, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex swung 1,260 points in the intra-day trade and hit an intra-day high and low of 47,424 and 46,160. The index eventually settled 588 points, or 1.26 per cent, lower at 46,286 levels. Dr Reddy’s Labs (down 5.5 per cent) was the top loser on the index after the pharmaceutical major’s consolidated net profit came in at Rs 19.8 crore for the quarter ended December, sharply lower than analysts’ estimate of Rs 726.5 crore.

That apart, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, and Bajaj Finserv, down between 5 per cent and 2.5 per cent, were the top drags. On the flipside, IndusInd Bank (up nearly 6 per cent), Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank were the only gainers on the Sensex.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 index closed at 13,635 levels, down 183 points or 1.32 per cent. The index hit an intra-day low of 13,597.

Both the benchmarks have erased around 5 per cent during the week.

The broader market, however, remained relatively stable with the S&P BSE MidCap and S&P BSE SmallCap index down 0.69 per cent and 0.25 per cent, respectively at close.

On the sectoral front, financial and realty stocks held their ground with the Nifty PSU Bank and Realty indices settling 1.7 per cent and 0.7 per cent higher, respectively. On the downside, Nifty Auto index tumbled around 3 per cent, while Nifty Pharma and Metal indices declined around 2 per cent each.

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Sensex gains 307 points as financials, metals rally; Nifty PSU Bank jumps 7%


After a one day blip, equity market once again edged higher on Friday, led by buying in financial, metal and auto stocks. PSU bank stocks advanced the most in trade after state-owned lender, State Bank of India, posted a net profit of Rs 3,581 crore for the March quarter of FY20 (Q4FY20). The profit grew 326.93 per cent from Rs 838 crore clocked in the year-ago quarter (Q4FY19). Sequentially, the profit declined by 35.85 per cent.

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 307 points or 0.9 per cent to settle at 34,287.24 while NSE’s Nifty ended at 10,142.15, up 113 points or 1.13 per cent. Volatility index, India VIX, slipped dropped nearly 4 per cent to 28.51 levels.

On a weekly basis, Sensex rallied 5.7 per cent and Nifty added 5.86 per cent.

On the sectoral front, the Nifty PSU Bank index gained around 7 per cent to 1,386.75 levels with all the 13 constituents advancing. Nifty Metal index rallied nearly 4 per cent to 2,049.70 levels. On the other hand, Nifty FMCG was the only index that ended in the red. The index settled 0.27 per cent lower at 29,542 levels.

In the broader market, both the mid and smallcap indices outperformed the benchmarks. The S&P BSE MidCap index climbed 1.8 per cent to 12,554.16 while the S&P BSE SmallCap index surged 2.51 per cent to 11,855 levels.

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Sensex tanks 1,448 points on Friday on Coronavirus jitters; Nifty ends at 11,219


Equity market witnessed one of the steepest falls in the recent years on Friday as the fears of coronavirus turning into a pandemic triggered all-round sell-off at the bourses. Hopes that the epidemic that started in China would be over in a few months and economic activity would return to normal have been shattered, as new infections reported around the world now surpass those in China.

As a result, the S&P BSE Sensex nosedived 1,448 points or 3.64 per cent to end the session at 38,297. All 30 constituents ended in the red. Tech Mahindra (down around 9 per cent) took the biggest knock on the index. Other major contributors to the index were Reliance Industries (RIL), Infosys, HDFC, ICICI Bank, and TCS.

On the NSE, the 50-share index Nifty plunged 432 points or 3.7 per cent to end at 11,202.

Volatility index India VIX zoomed 29 per cent to 22.87 levels.

Sector wise, all the indices on the NSE ended deep in the red. Nifty IT index dropped over 5 per cent to 15,274 levels while Nifty Metal index cracked over 7 per cent to 2,233 levels.

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Sensex down 153 points, Nifty below 12,100; Asian Paints falls 2%


After a one-day blip, benchmark indices once again slipped into the negative territory on Thursday, pulled down by heavyweights such as Reliance Industries (RIL), HDFC Bank, TCS, HUL and Asian Paints. Further, investors awaited more clarity on US President Donald Trump’s statement ahead of his visit to India that the two countries were working on a major trade deal.

The S&P BSE Sensex lost 153 points or 0.37 per cent to settle at 41,170, with Asian Paints (down over 2 per cent) being the top loser and IndusInd Bank (up over 3.5 per cent) the biggest gainer.

NSE’s Nifty50 index ended the session at 12,081, down 45 points or 0.37 per cent.

Among individual stocks, IRCTC gained over 5 per cent to end at 1,928 . Adani Gas rallied 13 per cent to Rs 185.50 apiece on the BSE after media reports said Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) disposed November 29 showcause notice to the company and the regulator has approved TOTAL’s 37 per cent stake buy in the company.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap index added 62.5 points or 0.4 per cent to 15,694 while the S&P BSE SmallCap index rallied 0.5 per cent to settle at 14,747.

On the sectoral front, IT stocks bled the most, followed by FMCG and media counters. On the other hand, PSU bank stocks advanced the most. The Nifty PSU Bank index climbed 1 per cent to 2,169 levels.

Markets remained shut on Friday on account of Mahashivratri.

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Sensex up 227 points, mid-cap rally continues; metal stocks gain


Bulls held their reigns for the second consecutive day on Friday, as markets decisively stayed in the positive territory after a mild blip in the early morning trade. Pre-budget rally and decent Q3FY20 results throughout the day were the biggest factors driving the markets today. Banking counters were leading the charge from the front with HDFC twins, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Axis Bank being the top contributors of the gains today.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex surged 421 points off day’s low to hit an intra-day high of 41,697.03. At close, the Sensex settled at 41,613.19 level, up 226.79 points or 0.55 per cent. UltraTech Cement, L&T, Tech Mahindra, and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the top gainers on the 30-share index, while Power Grid, IndusInd Bank, TCS, and Reliance Industries were the top laggards.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 reclaimed the 12,250-mark in the intra-day trade today and hit a high of 12,272.15. The 50-share index ended 67.90 points, or 0.56 per cent, higher at 12,248.25 mark. Sectorally, all the key indices settled in the positive territory barring Nifty IT and Pharma indices. Nifty Metal index settled 1.02 per cent higher, followed by Nifty Financial Services index (up 0.9 per cent) and Nifty Bank index (up 0.8 per cent).

Broader markets continued their outperformance on Friday as well, with the S&P BSE mid-cap index hitting its fresh 52-week high in the intra-day trade today. At close, the index was at 15,826.57 level, up 0.8 per cent. The S&P BSE small-cap index, meanwhile, settled 0.5 per cent higher at 14,848.49.

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