Indian stocks finished the trading session lower on Friday, with losses concentrated in the Metals, Real Estate and Oil & Gas sectors. At the National Stock Exchange close, the Nifty 50 fell 1.30%, while the BSE Sensex 30 ended the day down 1.25%.
On the Nifty 50, Bajaj Finance Ltd (NSE:BJFN) was the leading gainer, rising 3.29% or 32.90 points to finish at 1,032.00. Eicher Motors Ltd. (NSE:EICH) added 1.56% or 124.00 points to close at 8,067.00, and SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd (NSE:SBIL) increased 0.84% or 16.90 points to end the session at 2,039.00.
Decliners were led by Hindalco Industries Ltd. (NSE:HALC), which dropped 6.25% or 60.30 points to close at 904.10. Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (NSE:HLL) fell 4.51% or 108.70 points to finish at 2,301.00, while Eternal Ltd (NSE:ETEA) slipped 4.36% or 13.00 points to end at 285.00.
On the Sensex 30, the top performers included Bajaj Finance Ltd (BO:BJFN), which rose 2.96% to 1,029.35; IndusInd Bank Ltd. (BO:INBK), which gained 0.63% to settle at 928.70; and State Bank Of India (BO:SBI), which added 0.29% to close at 1,196.00.
The worst performers on the BSE were Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (BO:HLL), down 4.47% to 2,302.25; Eternal Ltd (BO:ETEA), which lost 4.16% to settle at 285.50; and Tata Steel Ltd (BO:TISC), which declined 2.50% to end at 202.90.
Market breadth was negative across both major exchanges. On the National Stock Exchange, falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones by 1,904 to 591, with 48 stocks unchanged. On the Bombay Stock Exchange, 2,706 stocks declined, 1,251 advanced and 156 ended unchanged.
Two large-cap names reached fresh peaks during the session. Shares of Eicher Motors Ltd. (NSE:EICH) climbed to an all-time high, gaining 1.56% or 124.00 points to 8,067.00. State Bank Of India (BO:SBI) also rose to a record level, up 0.29% or 3.50 points to 1,196.00.
Volatility, as measured by the India VIX for Nifty 50 options, moved higher, increasing 15.25% to 13.51.
Commodities posted mixed gains. Gold Futures for April delivery were up 1.01% or 49.96, trading at $4,998.36 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 0.32% or 0.20 to $63.04 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract increased 0.33% or 0.22 to $67.74 a barrel.
In currency markets, the USD/INR exchange rate rose 0.10% to 90.64, while EUR/INR fell 0.05% to 107.46. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.12% at 96.96.
Market close snapshot:
- Nifty 50: -1.30%
- BSE Sensex 30: -1.25%
- India VIX: +15.25% to 13.51
- Gold Futures (Apr): +1.01% to $4,998.36/oz
- Crude Oil (Mar): +0.32% to $63.04/bbl; Brent (Apr): +0.33% to $67.74/bbl
- USD/INR: 90.64; EUR/INR: 107.46; US Dollar Index Futures: 96.96