Mumbai: Indian indices ended slightly lower amid volatility on expiry day in futures and options, as investors acted cautiously due to rising crude oil prices and the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later this week.
At the close of the stock market, the Sensex fell 8.08 points to 73,598.67, while the Nifty declined 3.45 points to settle at 22,749.75.
The Nifty Midcap index rose 0.8 percent, and the Smallcap index gained 2.7 percent.
Among sectors, the media index rose 3.6%, realty and pharma gained 2% each, and the auto index climbed 1.4%. At the same time, the IT, oil & gas, and private banking sectors fell 0.5% each.
Shares including Tata Consumer Products, Bharti Airtel, Trent, BSE Limited, and Power Grid Corporation rose, while shares of Grasim Industries, SBI, Coal India, TCS, and Asian Paints declined.
Shares of Transformers and Rectifiers (India) rose 5% after the company announced that it would invest Rs 1,250 crore to set up three new manufacturing plants in Gujarat. Meanwhile, Highway Infrastructure shares surged 20% after it received a letter of award worth Rs 91.78 crore from the National Highways Authority of India.
Sigma Advanced Systems shares rose 5% after it received an order worth Rs 973 crore from a NATO customer. Genus Power Infrastructures gained 3% after approving a share buyback.
HSBC Bank downgraded Dalmia Bharat’s stock to a 'Hold,' after which its shares fell 6%. REC’s shares fell 3% after its consolidated profit declined in the second quarter.
In today’s foreign exchange trading, the Indian rupee strengthened by 7 paise to settle at Rs. 95.12 per US dollar, compared with its previous close of Rs. 95.19.
Based on the data, foreign institutional investors sold shares worth Rs. 1,462.49 crore yesterday (Monday).
About 180 stocks, including Dalmia Bharat, Sumitomo, REC, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, IRB Infrastructure Developers, Dabur India, IRCTC, CESC, PI Industries, and Afcons Infrastructure, hit their 52-week low.
