Sensex slides 330 points on Moody’s downgrade; Sun Pharma down 4%


Equity market was highly volatile in the afternoon session on Friday with the benchmark indices oscillating berween the positive and negative territories after Moody’s Investors Services downgraded India’s sovereign outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’, saying concerns mount the economic slowdown will be prolonged and debt will rise.

After hitting a fresh record high of 40741.69 levels during the session, the frontline S&P BSE Sensex was trading around 100 points lower. Private Banks were trading higher, with ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank and YES Bank up in the range of 3-7 per cent. On the downside, Sun Pharma was trading nearly 3 per cent lower.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 slipped below the crucial 12,000-mark to hover around 11,950 levels. .

Sectorally, Nifty Realty index was the top gainer, up 2.3 per cent, followed by gains in Nifty Private Bank (up 0.74 per cent), and Nifty Auto (up 0.58 per cent) indices. On the flipside, Nifty Pharma and FMCG indices, each, were trading over a per cent lower.

The broader markets, however, were trading in the green. The S&P BSE mid-cap index was up 0.06 per cent, while the S&P BSE small-cap index was up 0.12 per cent.

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Sensex ends 100 points up after a volatile day; Nifty below 11,000


Fresh trade war concerns between the United States and China weighed down investors’ sentiment on Friday leading to a sluggish trade through the day. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and the broader Nifty50 plummeted 411 points and 131 points respectively during the intra-day trade before staging a smart recovery during the last trading hour.

Indices inched higher on reports that the PMO took stock of the steep sell-off being witnessed in the market since the presentation of the Union Budget 2019-20. Reports suggested that PMO met officials from the Finance Ministry on Thursday to discuss concerns raised by the FPIs and even considered proposals submitted by them.

The Sensex closed at 37,118 level, up 100 points, or 0.27 per cent with Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, and Maruti being the top gainers. On the other hand, Tata Steel, SBI, Vedanta, and ONGC ended the day with steep losses. The broader Nifty50 failed to hold the psychological 11,000-mark to end at 10,997, up 17 points, or 0.16 per cent.

In the broader markets, S&P BSE Mid-cap closed at 13,547 level, up 20 points, or 0.15 per cent while the S&P BSE Small-cap settled 55 points, or 0.44 per cent, lower at 12,496 level.

Sectorally, metals slipped the most as risks to global economy increased after US President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs Chinese imports. The index dipped 2.16 per cent at close, followed by Nifty PSU Bank, down 1.12 per cent. Among the gainers, Nifty Auto index ended 1.26 per cent higher, followed by Nifty IT index, which gained 0.57 per cent on the back of weaker rupee.

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Sensex snaps 8-day rally, falls 222 pts, Nifty ends at 11,457


The S&P BSE Sensex ended 222 points or 0.58 per cent lower at 38,165 while NSE’s Nifty50 index dropped 64 points or 0.56 per cent to settle at 11,457.

At 2:30 PM, the S&P BSE Sensex 236 points lower around 38,150 levels, weighed by losses in Reliance, HDFC Bank, TCS, Kotak Bank and Maruti while slipped 70 points, or 0.61 per cent, to 11,450 levels.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap index was trading 73 points lower at 15,093, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index was ruling at 14,767, down 57 points or 0.39 per cent.

Among sectoral indices, every Nifty index except Nifty Realty were trading in the red with losses ranging from 0.21 per cent to 1.28%.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings on Friday cut India’s economic growth forecast for the next financial year starting April 1, to 6.8 per cent from its previous estimate of 7 per cent, on weaker than expected momentum in the economy.

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, parent of IndiGo, and SpiceJet rallied up to 14 per cent in early morning trade on Friday, surging up to 33 per cent in past two days on market share gain in the month of February.

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Sensex slips 97 points on Friday, Nifty ends at 10,795; TCS falls over 2%


The benchmark indices settled marginally lower on Friday weighed by IT bellwether Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and select banking and automobile stocks.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 36,010, down 97 points or 0.27 per cent, while the broader Nifty50 index ended at 10,795, down 27 points or 0.25 per cent. On a weekly basis, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 0.88 per cent, while Nifty50 rose 0.63 per cent.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index ended at 15,177, down 19 points or 0.13 per cent, while S&P BSE SmallCap index slipped 28 points or 0.19 per cent to 14,600.

Shares of Eveready Industries India (EIIL) jumped 13 per cent to settle at Rs 205 per share on the BSE on reports that promoter BM Khaitan is likely to sell the flagship company, a leader in dry cell batteries and flashlights.

IT bellwether Infosys gained 0.58 per cent to settle at Rs 684 on the BSE ahead of the board meeting today to consider the financial results for the third quarter of the financial year 2018-19 (FY19). Its peer Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) declined 2.45 per cent to Rs 1,842 even as it earned its highest-ever net profit of Rs 8,105 crore in the seasonally weak third quarter (Q3) of 2018-19 (FY19).

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Sensex reclaims 36,000, Nifty ends at 10,860 led by financials


Firm global cues and buying in financial and pharma counters helped domestic benchmark indices settle in the positive territory for the third consecutive session on Friday.

The S&P BSE Sensex gained 269 points or 0.75 per cent to close at 36,077 while the NSE’s Nifty50 index ended at 10,860, up 80 points or 0.74 per cent. Out of 50 constituents on the index, 38 ended in the green and rest 12 in the red.

Volatility benchmark India VIX declined over 6 per cent to 15.03, indicating lower volatility in the market.

As many as 8 stocks hit 52-week high on NSE including names such as Bata India and SPL Industries. On the contrary, 48 securities hit their one-year low.

On a weekly basis, both the headline indices rose around 1 per cent.

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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 surges 580 points on Friday on strong Asian cues; auto, banks rally


The benchmark indices settled over 1.5 per cent higher on Friday led by a sharp rise in automobile stocks amid a jump in the Asian markets which rose as China and the United States expressed optimism about resolving their bruising trade war.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,012, up 580 points (up 1.8 per cent), while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,553, up 173 points (up 1.7 per cent). The indices ended over 5 per cent higher this week, making it the biggest weekly gain since May 2016.

Among the sectoral indices, Nifty Auto index rose 4.2 per cent led by a rise in Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hero MotoCorp. The Nifty Bank index, too, ended 1.5 per cent led by IndusInd Bank and Axis Bank.

In stocks, the oil and gas companies rallied led by BPCL which rose 6.4 per cent to Rs 301 on the BSE while IOC ended nearly 5 per cent higher at Rs 148.

The rupee firmed against the US dollar, reclaiming the 72-per-dollar levels. The Indian currency rose to 72.53 against the greenback in intra-day trade, up from its previous close of 73.45 per dollar.

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Sensex slips 85 points as private banks drag, Yes Bank falls 3.5%


The benchmark indices settled marginally lower on Friday weighed by financials and consumer stocks amid caution in global markets.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 38,252, down 85 points while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 11,557, down 26 points.

Among key stocks, Yes Bank and ICICI Bank were among the top losers on the BSE, falling 3.5 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the Nifty Bank index settled 0.7 per cent lower weighed by Yes Bank, Bank of Baroda and ICICI Bank.

Shares of selected pharmaceutical companies were in focus with Amrutanjan Health Care, Pfizer, Merck and Novartis India rallying up to 18% on the BSE in otherwise subdued market. All these stocks were trading at their respective all-time highs.

Analysts remain bullish on Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and have maintained a ‘buy’ rating on the stock despite the company’s buyback proposal. The company, at its meeting on Thursday, approved a proposal to buy back up to 60 million equity shares at a maximum price of Rs 1,500 per equity share for an amount of Rs 90 billion.

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Sensex ends at new closing high of 37,337; ITC up 5% post Q1


The benchmark indices ended at record closing high for the second straight session on Friday on strong quarterly results. The gains were led by index heavyweights like ITC, RIL, and Hindalco.

The S&P BSE Sensex settled at a record high of 37,337, up 352 points, while the broader Nifty 50 index settled at a new high of 11,278, up 111 points.

In intra-day deals, the S&P BSE Sensex hit a fresh all-time high of 37368.62 while the Nifty50 index touched its record high level of 11,283.40.

Leading the gains is ITC, which has surged over 5 per cent on the BSE. Beating street estimates, diversified conglomerate ITC on Thursday posted a 10.07 per cent jump in its net profit at Rs 28.19 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 with its total revenue, inclusive of other income, registered at Rs 112.78 billion.

Among other gainers, Reliance Industries was among the top contributors to the NSE index, up over 1.5 per cent ahead of its quarterly results later in the day. The oil-to-retail conglomerate will also report results of its telecom arm Reliance Jio.

Nifty Bank index also hit an all-time high, ending 0.8% higher for the day. IDFC Bank, Federal Bank, and Axis Bank were the top gainers in the pack, up between 2 per cent to 2.6 per cent.

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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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