Local stocks closed slightly higher

The key domestic indices finished marginally higher. Nifty Financial Services, Nifty Media and Nifty PSU Bank shares gained, while Nifty Metal and Nifty Pharma shares declined.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, added 138.36 points or 0.19% to 74,902.59. The Nifty 50 index posted modest gains of 46.30 points or 0.20% to 23,477.80. In the past three trading sessions, the Nifty and Sensex slipped by 1.27% and 1.62%, respectively.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index moved lower by 0.40% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index moved higher by 0.01%.

The market breadth was soft. On the BSE, 2207 shares advanced and 2980 shares retreated. A total of 198 shares were unchanged.

HDFC Bank Ltd was the top traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 271.08 lakh shares and recorded a sharp spurt of 8.11% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has slumped by around 6.01% in last one-month and has slumped 28.81% over last one year.

Tata Steel Ltd was the second highest traded stock in NIFTY50 index today, recording a quantity of 233.35 lakh shares and posted a sharp drop of 18.56% compared to last one-week’s average daily volume. The stock has edged lower 0.78% in last one-month and has surged 11.59% over last one year.

Index action

The Nifty Financial Services index inched up by 0.57% to 25520.3 today. The index is slightly lower by 1.69% in last one week and has inched lower by 4.40% over last one month. It slipped by 2.25% in last one year. HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd (up 2.36%), Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Ltd (up 1.64%), SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd (up 0.99%), HDFC Bank Ltd (up 0.98%) and Muthoot Finance Ltd (up 0.94%) moved up.

The Nifty Metal index moved lower by 0.65% to 13304.95 today. The index is slightly higher by 1.78% in last one week and has moved higher by 1.25% over last one month. It jumped by 37.57% in last one year. Jindal Stainless Ltd (down 2.70%), Hindustan Zinc Ltd (down 1.95%), Steel Authority of India Ltd (down 1.42%), NMDC Ltd (down 1.40%) and Vedanta Ltd (down 1.27%) traded lower.

The Nifty Pharma index eased by 0.51% to 26555.85 today. The index has eased by 0.33% in last one week and has risen slightly by 0.80% over last one month. It is sharply higher by 21.04% in last one year. Sai Life Sciences Ltd (down 5.03%), Gland Pharma Ltd (down 2.62%), Piramal Pharma Ltd (down 2.53%), Aurobindo Pharma Ltd (down 1.80%) and Wockhardt Ltd (down 1.25%) moved down.

Global Markets

European markets gained slightly.

DOW futures are up 0.08% today.

MCX Crude oil futures are higher by 1.65% at Rs 9117.0 per barrel.

NIFTY50 futures ended modestly lower by 0.22% at 23500 and are in a premium of 22 points compared to NIFTY50.