Share Market Today: Sensex, Nifty End Slightly Lower. Adani Ports Down 1.37%

Share market today: On the 30-share Sensex platform, Adani Ports was the biggest loser, dropping 1.37%, followed by ITC, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Maruti, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Power Grid, HUL and L&T

Share market today: The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Friday closed marginally lower amid volatility and profit-booking. The 30-share Sensex shed 72 points to end at 82,890. On the other hand, the NSE Nifty50 closed 32 points lower to 25,356.

Stock update

On the 30-share Sensex platform, Adani Ports was the biggest loser, declining 1.37 per cent, followed by ITC, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Maruti, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Power Grid, Hindustan Unilever and Larsen & Toubro. On the flip side, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, Axis Bank and Tech Mahindra were among the gainers.

In the broader markets, Nifty Midcap 100 settled at a record high closing level of 60,034 with a gain of 394 points. Nifty Smallcap 100 index advanced for the second consecutive session to end with a gain of 0.78 per cent on Friday.

Sectoral update

Excluding FMCG, power, and oil & gas, all other sectors closed in positive territory, with IT, media, metal, realty, and PSU banks gaining 0.5 per cent to 1.7 per cent each.

In the previous session on Thursday, the BSE Sensex index ended at a record high of 82,962, up by 1,440 points, while the NSE Nifty50 surged 470 points to settle at a record closing high of 25,389.

"The market took a breather and ended on a flat note after the previous day’s sharp uptick. Despite domestic CPI inflation being within the RBI's target band, the increase in food prices may influence the central bank to remain prudent on rates. Higher liquidity from FIIs to the domestic market and a slide in US 10-year yield increased the prospects of the FED rate cut, which will aid domestic sentiment," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Global update

In Asian markets, Tokyo and Shanghai settled lower, while Seoul and Hong Kong ended in positive territory. European markets were trading higher in the mid-session deals. The US markets ended with gains on Thursday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 7,695 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 1.03 per cent to 72.71 a barrel.

Rupee rises 6 paise

The rupee witnessed range-bound trade and settled for the day higher by 6 paise at 83.90 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday supported by weakening of the American currency in the overseas market and significant foreign fund inflows. Forex traders said rupee trade was range-bound as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is maintaining a firm grip on the domestic currency.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 83.92 and witnessed an intraday high of 83.85 and a low of 83.98 against the American currency. The domestic unit finally settled for the day at 83.90 (provisional), higher by 6 paise over its previous close. On Thursday, the local unit settled 3 paise higher at 83.96 against the US dollar.