Indian equities markets yesterday closed on a flat note – fractionally in the red – as disappointing macro-economic data, coupled with broadly negative global cues and profit booking, subdued investors’ sentiments.
However, positive European markets, along with a strengthened rupee arrested the falls.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 12.75 points or 0.14% to 8,792.30 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,386.12 points, closed at 28,339.31 points – down 12.31 points, or 0.04%, from the previous close at 28,351.62 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 28,386.68 points and a low of 28,263.45 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears – with 1,776 declines and 1,050 advances. On Monday, the NSE Nifty rose by 11.50 points or 0.13% to close at 8,805.05 points, and the BSE Sensex was up by 17.37 points, or 0.06%, at 28,351.62 points.
“Markets ended with marginal losses yesterday after witnessing a volatile session as caution prevailed ahead of US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen’s upcoming congressional testimony,” Deepak Jasani, head of retail research at HDFC Securities, told IANS.
“Frontline indices swung between the positive and negative terrain around the flat line amid rangebound trade.”
In terms of broader markets, the BSE mid-cap index fell by 0.56%, while the small-cap index was down by 0.63%.
Besides, official wholesale prices (WPI) data released during the afternoon showed that India’s annual rate of WPI inflation rose to 5.25% in January, 2017. This hampered investors’ risk-taking appetite.
Another set of data points released on Monday showed that the country’s annual retail inflation (CPI) eased to 3.17% during last month.
The Indian rupee strengthened by eight paise to 66.94 against a US dollar from its previous close of 67.02 to a greenback.
The rupee strengthened by eight paise to 66.94 against a US dollar from its previous close of 67.02
