MARKET WRAP: Indices fall for third straight day, Sensex slips 272 points

The Nifty Metal index was the top loser of the day, falling 2.3 per cent weighed by JSW Steel and Jindal Steel & Power. The Nifty Auto index slipped 1.4 per cent dragged down by Hero MotoCorp.

The benchmark indices continued their losing streak for the third consecutive session on Monday, ending the Christmas-eve by falling nearly 1 per cent dragged down by metal and automobile stocks.

The markets will be shut on Tuesday on account of Christmas and will reopen on Wednesday.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 35,470, down 272 points or 0.76 per cent, while the broader Nifty50 index settled at 10,664, down 91 points or 0.84 per cent.

Among the sectoral indices, the Nifty Metal index was the top loser of the day, falling 2.3 per cent weighed by JSW Steel and Jindal Steel & Power. The Nifty Auto index, too, slipped 1.4 per cent dragged down by Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto.
 

The broader market indices, too, fell in line with their benchmark peers. The S&P BSE MidCap index slipped 0.54 per cent to 15,171, while the S&P BSE SmallCap index fell 1.14 per cent to 14,466.

Among individual stocks, Max India fell 4.7 per cent to Rs 80.30 on NSE after the company said it will sell a stake in its healthcare services joint venture Max Healthcare Institute to Radiant Life Care and global investment firm KKR. The deal includes Radiant Life's purchase of a 49.7 per cent stake in Max Healthcare from South Africa-based hospital operator Life Healthcare International Proprietary.

Shares of graphite electrode manufacturer Graphite India fell 5 per cent to Rs 755 on NSE, after Karnataka State Pollution Control Board renewed the consent for the operation of its electrode plant in Bengaluru for a period up to June 30, 2020, but with the condition to shift the unit from the existing location.

Global markets

Asian stocks were subdued on Monday as investors fretted that political instability in the United States was leaving the country rudderless at a time when the global economy was showing signs of faltering.

Moves were limited by a holiday in Japan while many bourses are set to close early for Christmas. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.5 per cent to its lowest in seven weeks. Yet Chinese blue chips managed to edge up 0.2 per cent, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 recouped early losses to rise 0.4 per cent.

(with Reuters input)

3:39 PM

Top sectoral gainers and losers on NSE

3:38 PM

S&P BSE Sensex: Top gainers and losers

3:35 PM

Market at close

 

The S&P BSE Sensex lost 272 points or 0.76 per cent to close at 35,470 while NSE's Nifty50 index declined 91 points or 0.84 per cent to settle at 10,664.

3:22 PM

Gold rises as US political uncertainty breeds risk-aversion

Gold prices climbed on Monday, holding ground near a six-month high hit last week, as investors remained concerned about political uncertainty in the United States and global economic slowdown.

 

Spot gold was up 0.6 per cent at $1,263.01 per ounce. The metal had hit its highest since early July at $1,266.40 on Thursday. US gold futures were up 0.6 per cent at $1,265.8 per ounce. READ MORE

3:20 PM

NEWS ALERT Asian Paints: Promoters release pledge on 29 lakh shares on December 21

3:09 PM

NEWS ALERT Max India: Shares of NewCo shall be listed on the stock exchanges

3:08 PM

NEWS ALERT Max India: Radiant Life will also buy 49.7% in Max Health from Life Healthcare

3:05 PM

NEWS ALERT Max India approves merger between co, Max Health & Radiant Life into a new co

3:01 PM

As many as 43 securities hit 52-week low on NSE so far in trade

Symbol	Security	New 52W/L	Prev. Low	Prev. Low Date	LTP	Prev. Close	Chng	% Chng
ANKITMETAL	Ankit Metal & Power Limited	0.40	0.40	20-Dec-2018	0.40	.50	0.00	0.00
ANTGRAPHIC	Antarctica Limited	0.40	0.40	11-Dec-2018	0.40	.45	-0.05	-11.11
APLAPOLLO	APL Apollo Tubes Limited	1,152.00	1,158.00	04-Oct-2018	1,155.00	1170.25	-15.25	-1.30
ARROWTEX	Arrow Textiles Limited	23.25	23.50	29-Oct-2018	24.00	24.20	-0.20	-0.83
ASHIANA	Ashiana Housing Limited	114.00	115.30	20-Dec-2018	115.45	116.10	-0.65	-0.56
BILPOWER	Bilpower Limited	0.40	0.40	01-Oct-2018	0.40	.45	-0.05	-11.11

2:49 PM

Momentum picks by ICICI Direct Research 

2:26 PM

PSU banks trade firm; Bank of India rallies 30% in 10 days

 

Shares of public sector undertaking (PSU) banks were trading higher in an otherwise range-bound market with Nifty PSU Bank index gaining nearly 1% on Monday. Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda (BOB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Indian Bank and State Bank of India (SBI) were up in the range of 1% to 4% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Read more

2:18 PM

Top losers on BSE500

COMPANY	PRICE()	CHG()	CHG(%)	VOLUME
SRF	1998.00	-154.90	-7.19	73476
JUBILANT FOOD.	1239.95	-74.80	-5.69	106356
JP ASSOCIATES	7.32	-0.43	-5.55	8014858
ALLCARGO LOGIST.	106.45	-5.65	-5.04	6586
HEG	3694.00	-195.00	-5.01	41394

2:00 PM

Market check

Index	Current	Pt. Change	% Change
S&P BSE SENSEX	35,689.78	-52.29	-0.15
S&P BSE SENSEX 50	11,232.35	-20.03	-0.18
S&P BSE SENSEX Next 50	32,585.78	-67.88	-0.21
S&P BSE 100	11,027.59	-20.10	-0.18
S&P BSE Bharat 22 Index	3,457.22	-3.91	-0.11

1:47 PM

Fitch on India Populist steps ahead of general elections could put pressure on India's fiscal 

1:45 PM

Fitch on India Need significant consolidation to cut debt to 60%