The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Friday started in the red tracking mixed global cues and rising crude oil prices.
At 10.30 am, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 41 points to 62,231, while the broader NSE Nifty was trading at 18,484, slightly up by0.80 per cent.
On the 30-share Sensex platform, Nestle was the top loser, followed by HUL, Asian Paint, Airtel, HDFC, HCL Tech, TCS, and others. On the flip side, L&T was leading, followed by IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, UltraCemco, Maruti, NTPC, and others.
The overall market breadth stood negative as on the 30-share Sensex pack, 11 scrips were advancing, while 19 were declining.
In the broader markets, Nifty SmallCap 100 and Nifty MidCap 100 indices climbed up to 0.4 per cent.
All sectors shifted between gains and losses. Nifty PSU Bank index gained the most - up to 2 per cent, whereas Nifty IT, Nifty FMCG, and Nifty Metal indices declined the most - over 0.3 per cent each.
Among individual stocks, shares of PNB surged 8 per cent to hit a 21-month high of Rs 54.90 per share after it received the government’s approval to divest its entire stake in UTI Asset Management Company (AMC).
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.20 per cent to $85.51 per barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital markets on Thursday as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,231.98 crore, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, the rupee appreciated 16 paise to 81.54 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday on broad dollar weakness and in line with its Asian peers.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.69 against the dollar, then gained ground to touch 81.54, registering a rise of 16 paise over its previous close.
On Thursday, the rupee appreciated by 23 paise to close at 81.70 against the US dollar.