Sensex slumps 774 pts, Nifty ends below 17900; Auto, FMCG stocks outshine

Closing Bell: Within sectors, the Nifty PSB index tanked 3.6 per cent followed by bank, financial indices. Auto, metals and FMCG pockets closed nearly flat with fractional cuts

CLOSING BELL

Equity markets succumbed to severe selling pressure on Wednesday led by losses in financial stocks and the monthly F&O expiry that weakened investor sentiment. 

The BSE Sensex slumped 774 points (1.3 per cent) to close at 60,205 after it recovered from its intra day low of 60,081. The NSE Nifty lost 226 points to close at 17,892. 

Across the two indices, IndusInd Bank, HDFC twins, SBI, Adani Ports, Tech M, Axis Bank and Ultratech Cement were the top drags, slipping 1-4 per cent.

On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, Maruti, HUL, Britannia, Tata Steel, and Hindalco firmly defied the weak trend and ended with gains of up to 1 per cent. 

Within sectors, the Nifty PSB index tanked 3.6 per cent followed by bank, financial indices. Auto, metals and FMCG pockets closed nearly flat with fractional cuts. 
 

In the broader market, the BSE midcap index cracked 1.5 per cent while smallcap index lost around 1 per cent. ACC, Adani Power, Motilal Oswal, Vodafone Idea, Concor and Aurobindo Pharma led midcap losses, sinking up to 7 per cent. 

Among other stocks, Indus Towers plunged 7 per cent after the company posted a net loss of Rs 708 crore in Q3FY23. Read more

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4:08 PM

TECHNICAL VIEW: Gaurav Ratnaparkhi, Head of Technical Research, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas

The Nifty opened on a negative note on January 25 & tumbled down sharply as the day progressed. It breached the key daily moving averages on the way down. The larger structure, however, shows that the index is still in the range, which it has been witnessing for last one month. It recently tested the upper end of the range & thereon it has tumbled down towards the lower end i.e. 17800-17760. This zone has been acting as a strong support & is likely to provide support this time as well. Thus unless the level of 17760 breaks, the Nifty can witness recovery within the short term range.

4:05 PM

MARKET COMMENT: Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services

Indian equities witnessed significant sell-off as the market appeared apprehensive ahead of the upcoming Union Budget and Fed meeting next week. Sentiments were dampened by persistent FII selling, where funds are being shifted to other EMs as a result of attractive valuations. Furthermore, a weak economic growth outlook that stoked recession fears pulled down global markets.

3:59 PM

Over 1,100 stocks advanced, while 2,390 declined

3:55 PM

Adani Ports, SBI, IndusInd Bank top Nifty50 laggards

3:50 PM

Bajaj Auto, HUL, Hindalco top Nifty50 leaders

3:45 PM

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3:40 PM

All sectors drown in the sea of red, PSU Bank index worst hit

3:37 PM

SENSEX HEATMAP: 8 out of 30 index constituents close in green

3:33 PM

CLOSING BELL: Nifty50 closes below 17,900 levels, down 200pts

3:32 PM

CLOSING BELL: Sensex falls over 750 points

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