CLOSING BELL: Titan Company, Tech M, Maruti Suzuki, Cipla, IOC, Nestle India, Hero MotoCorp, Eicher Motors, L&T, TCS, Wipro, and Tata Steel were the top laggards

MARKET LIVE: Sensex down 150 pts, Nifty holds 17,150; IT, FMCG shares weak

<b>CLOSING BELL</b><br />
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	Lack of directional cues kept benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 range-bound in the negative territory for better part of the day on Friday. However, the indices turned choppy and ended mildly off lows as energy prices, including crude oil futures, eased after the US and European Union signed agreement to share energy needs.</div>
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	The 30-pack Sensex index had touched a low of 57,100 during the day but bounced back mildly to end at 57,362, down 233.5 points or 0.4 per cent. On NSE, the Nifty50 ended at 17,153, down 70 points or 0.4 per cent, climbing off from the day&#39;s low of 17,0.76.&nbsp;</div>
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	22 of the 30 Sensex stocks and 37 of the 50 Nifty50 stocks settled the day in the red. Titan Company, Tech M, Maruti Suzuki, Cipla, IOC, Nestle India, Hero MotoCorp, Eicher Motors, L&T, TCS, Wipro, and Tata Steel were the top laggards, losing upwards of a per cent each.</div>
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	On the upside, Bajaj Auto, Adani Ports, SBI, Dr Reddy&#39;s Labs, JSW Steel, Asian Paints, RIL, and SBI were the major gainers, up between 0.7 per cent and 2 per cent.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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	The broader markets, too, closed in the negative zone. The BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices dipped 0.3 per cent each.</div>
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	Among sectors, the Nifty Realty index was the top gainer, up 1.2 per cent. On the flipside, the Nifty Consumer Durable index was the worst hit, down over 2 per cent, followed by the Nifty IT and FMCG indices, down up to 1 per cent.</div>
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	<strong>Buzzing stocks</strong></div>
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	Shares of <strong>Inox Leisure</strong> hit a 52-week high of Rs 497, surging 12 per cent on the BSE in Friday&#39;s intra-day trade, supported by heavy volumes. The stock has been able to hold its ground as pandemic-related restrictions eased and strong content line-up, ready to be released over the next few months, improved business outlook. <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/inox-leisure-rallies-8-hits-52-week-high-on-improved-outlook-122032500265_1.html" target="_blank"><strong>READ MORE</strong></a></div>
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	Shares of<strong> Indian Hotels Company </strong>also gained nearly 8 per cent toto touch an intra-day high of Rs 236 on the BSE on Friday. The surge came ahead of the company&#39;s board meeting to decide issue price of qualified institutional placement (QIP), scheduled later today. The stock traded close to its record high level of Rs 230.14 touched on October 14, 2021. <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/indian-hotels-nears-record-high-ahead-of-board-meet-for-fixing-qip-price-122032500334_1.html" target="_blank"><strong>READ MORE</strong></a></div>
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	On the contrary, shares of<strong> Indus Tower</strong> slipped 8 per cent to Rs 196.55 on the BSE in Friday&#39;s intra-day trade amid heavy volume. The stock of the telecom infrastructure provider traded close to its 52-week low of Rs 194.25 touched on August 5, 2021. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 332.60 on September 28, 2021. <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/indus-tower-tanks-8-on-heavy-volume-stock-nears-52-week-low-122032500642_1.html" target="_blank"><strong>READ MORE</strong></a></div>
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	<strong>Global markets</strong></div>
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	European markets were mixed on Friday, as investors continued to monitor the war in Ukraine and assess the outlook for global monetary policy. The pan-European Stoxx 600 hovered 0.2 per cent below the flatline in early trade.</div>
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	On Wall Street, futures linked to the three main indices were little changed.</div>
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	Earlier in Asia, Hong Kongs Hang Seng dropped 2.47 per cent, the Shanghai composite was down 1.17 per cent, and the Shenzhen component fell 1.89 per cent after. The CSI 300 dropped 1.8 per cent as investors assessed the impact of a ban announced Sunday by the Australian government on exports of alumina and aluminum ores to Russia.</div>
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	Japan stocks moved between positive and negative territory, but the Nikkei 225 closed 0.14 per cent up, and the Topix closed flat to 1,981.47.</div>

Sensex ends choppy day 234 pts down; Nifty holds 17,150; IT, FMCG weigh

Business Standard

Sensex ends choppy day 234 pts down; Nifty holds 17,150; IT, FMCG weigh | News on Markets - Business Standard

CreditAccess Grameen surges 40% in 3 months on improved asset quality

Shares of CreditAccess Grameen hit a 52-week high of Rs 878 as they surged 15 per cent on the BSE in Friday&#39;s intra-day trade, in an otherwise range-bound market, on expectations of healthy earnings. <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/creditaccess-grameen-surges-40-in-3-months-on-improved-assets-quality-122032500251_1.html?1648183027" target="_blank"><strong>READ MORE HERE</strong></a><br />
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<div style="float: left; max-width: 600px;">
	<img align="" alt="Stock Market Investment" class="imgCont" height="464" src="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2022-03/20/full/1647789294-6739.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-right: 10px; padding: 1px; float: left; z-index: 0; width:100%" title="Stock Market Investment" width="620" /></div>
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Zen Tech hits upper circuit after project sanction order from Indian Army

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Laurus Labs abuzz post USFDA nod to market generic HIV drug

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Kalpataru Power rallies over 4% after SBI Funds hikes 7.25% stake

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Motherson Sumi gains over 2% on Boeing order win

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Market view: Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services

<blockquote>
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		The 17000-17500 range for Nifty is likely to hold for the near term with a possible breakout above the upper band coming early in April triggered by positive news from the earnings season. The bullish undertone of the market is evident from the fact that inspite of lots of unfavorable developments Nifty is up by 2.5% in March so far and India is outperforming most of the markets. A hawkish Fed, spiking crude and uncertainties associated with the war haven&#39;t diminished the enthusiasm of the bulls. The trend of preference for value over growth is evident in the strong performance of stocks like RIL and ITC and the weak performance of stocks like Britannia and HUL. This trend is likely to continue.</div>
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Opening bell: Realty stocks gather steam; Godrej Properties gains over 2%

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Opening bell: Media stocks in demand; Inox spikes above 6%

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Opening bell: Tata Consumer, Titan, Maruti top Nifty 50 laggards

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Opening bell: UPL, Bajaj Auto, Hero Moto top Nifty 50 gainers

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Opening bell: Broader markets firm; India Vix in green

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Opening bell: Mild gains seen across sectors except FMCG and Pharma

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Opening bell: 16 out of 30 Sensex stocks open in red

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Opening bell: Choppy start to trade as Sensex opens flat

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