3 weeks ago
Sensex, Nifty Dip as Banks, Crude Oil Prices Weigh
Stock markets are places where people buy and sell tiny pieces of companies.
In India, two important stock market trackers are called Sensex and Nifty.
When they go down, it means investors are feeling a bit worried.
On Friday, both Sensex and Nifty went down after going up for two days.
One big reason was that bank and money companies did not do well.
Some companies like Bajaj Finance and ICICI Bank lost value.
Another reason was that oil prices stayed high, above 82 dollars per barrel.
High oil prices can make things cost more for many businesses.
There was also worry about tensions in the Middle East.
Even though some companies like Tata Consultancy Services went up, the markets ended lower overall.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Friday, breaking a two-day gaining streak.
Sensex dropped 455.59 points (0.58%) to 78,499.17, while Nifty dipped 65.35 points (0.27%) to 24,570.65.
Bajaj Finance tanked 5.90% and Bajaj Finserv fell 4.18%, with ICICI Bank, Trent, Axis Bank and Asian Paints also among the laggards.
Brent crude traded at USD 82.20 per barrel, down 0.35%, as Middle East geopolitical uncertainty, including renewed uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz negotiations, kept sentiment cautious.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 17.86 crore on Thursday, and a new closing auction mechanism for shares with F&O contracts became operational on Monday.
- Who
- India's benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty, dragged down by banking and financial stocks such as Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Trent, Axis Bank and Asian Paints.
- What
- The indices fell, ending a two-day gaining streak, as bank and financial stocks declined and crude oil prices stayed elevated.
- Where
- Indian equity markets on the BSE and NSE, alongside mixed performance in Asian markets.
- When
- Friday, in the same week a new closing auction mechanism for shares with F&O contracts became operational on Monday.
- Why
- Weakness in banking and financial stocks, elevated Brent crude prices above USD 82 per barrel, and Middle East geopolitical uncertainty, including renewed uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz negotiations.
Key facts
- Sensex close
- 78,499.17, down 455.59 points (0.58%)
- Nifty close
- 24,570.65, down 65.35 points (0.27%)
- Brent crude
- USD 82.20 per barrel, down 0.35%
- Top laggards
- Bajaj Finance (-5.90%), Bajaj Finserv (-4.18%)
- FII activity
- Offloaded equities worth Rs 17.86 crore on Thursday
- New mechanism
- Closing auction mechanism for F&O stocks operational from Monday
- Prior trend
- Indices had gained for two days before Friday's decline
Quotes
Vinod Nair
Head of Research at Geojit Investments Ltd
“Investor sentiment remained cautious as markets weighed geopolitical risks alongside the potential implications of fresh regulatory proposals for the non-bank lending sector.”
rediff.com
“Market sentiment remains measured as the absence of a definitive geopolitical resolution in the Middle East continues to keep crude oil prices volatile.”
rediff.com
Sources
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