Markets end on mixed note; Sensex climbs over 224 pts, Nifty dips 6 pts

Equity markets witnessed mixed trends on Thursday, with the Sensex climbing over 224 points, while the NSE Nifty dipped almost 6 points in a see-saw session – the 50-share index weighed down by continuous selling in Adani Group stocks.
 
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex advanced 224.16 points or 0.38 per cent to settle at 59,932.24. During the day, it hit a high of 60,007.67 and a low of 59,215.62.
 
However, the broader NSE Nifty dipped 5.90 points or 0.03 per cent to end at 17,610.40.
 
ITC jumped 4.74 per cent to top the Sensex gainers' chart for the second straight day. The other major winners included IndusInd Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services and ICICI Bank.
 
However, NTPC, HDFC, Titan, Tata Steel, Power Grid, Bajaj Finance and HDFC Bank were the prominent laggards. Titan slipped 1.80 per cent after the Tata group firm reported a 9.78 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to ~913 crore for the December quarter, impacted by higher expenses. "Despite a growth oriented Budget, drop in crude prices and upside in the global market, the domestic market is not able to gain because of the Adani saga having a ripple impact on the investors.
 
"In addition, the premium valuation of India continues to weigh down the performance compared to other emerging markets which are expecting upside in the economy. The global markets are positive in assumption of being in the last phase of the rate hikes," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

 
World stocks advanced after the US Federal Reserve increased the interest rate by 25 bps on expected lines but Fed Chair Jerome Powell said a "disinflationary" process was underway, boosting expectations of a pause in the rate hike cycle.
 
Elsewhere in Asia, equity markets in Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai ended in the green, while Hong Kong settled lower.
 
Equities in Europe were trading higher during mid-session deals. Markets in the US had ended in the positive territory on Wednesday.
 
"The rout in Adani group stocks continued to play havoc as benchmark indices gyrated sharply intraday before recouping lost ground on buying in IT and banking stocks.