Stock Market Trades Flat: Sensex Rises Marginally, Nifty Above 18,100 Amid Volatility

Stock update: On the 30-share Sensex platform, PowerGrid, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, SBI, L&T were the prime winners

In the broader markets, Nifty MidCap 100 and Nifty SmallCap 100 indices lowered up to 0.05 per cent.

The two key equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, on Friday opened flat amid volatility, tracking mixed global cues.

At 10.10 am, the S&P BSE Sensex was marginally up 25 points to 60,882, while the NSE Nifty50 was trading at 18,113, up 6 points.

On the 30-share Sensex platform, PowerGrid, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, SBI, L&T were the prime winners. On the flip side, HUL, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Nestle, Titan emerged early losers.

Among individual stocks, shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) lowered 0.9 per cent ahead of third quarter results (Q3FY23).

Besides, shares of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) dipped 4 per cent after the board approved an increase in the payment of royalty and technical fees to its parent Unilever.

In the broader markets, Nifty MidCap 100 and Nifty SmallCap 100 indices lowered up to 0.05 per cent.

Sectorwise, Nifty Bank and Nifty Metal indices gained up to 0.5 per cent. However, Nifty FMCG and Nifty Auto indices declined up to 0.9 per cent.

The S&P BSE Sensex declined 187 points or 0.3 per cent to close at 60,858 levels, while the NSE Nifty50 settled at 18,107, down 57 points or 0.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the rupee opened on a positive note and gained 15 paise to 81.15 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday. Forex traders said the rupee opened stronger tracking gains in the non-deliverable forward (NDF) markets.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.24 against the dollar, then gained further ground and touched 81.15, registering a rise of 21 paise over its previous close. On Thursday, it settled at 81.36 against the dollar.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.09 per cent to 102.15.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.65 per cent to $86.72 per barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market on Thursday as they purchased shares worth Rs 399.98 crore, according to exchange data.