Stocks

Sensex drops over 150 points; Nifty tests 14,500

PTI Mumbai | Updated on January 14, 2021 Published on January 14, 2021

Equity benchmark Sensex dropped over 150 points in early trade on Thursday led by heavy selling in index-heavyweights Infosys, HCL Tech and Asian Paints.

The 30-share BSE index was trading 154.21 points or 0.31 per cent lower at 49,338.11.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty fell 47.45 points or 0.33 per cent to 14,517.40 in opening deals.

According to traders, profit-booking at higher levels is keeping benchmark indices volatile.

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Markets likely to open flat with positive bias
 

HCL Tech was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 4 per cent, followed by Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement and Bajaj Finance.

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, ITC, L&T, Bajaj Auto and Kotak Bank were among the gainers.

In the previous session, Sensex ended 24.79 points or 0.05 per cent lower at 49,492.32, while Nifty inched up 1.40 points or 0.01 per cent to its new closing record of 14,564.85.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,879.06 crore on Wednesday, as per exchange data.

On the earnings front, Infosys on Wednesday posted a 16.6 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,197 crore for the December 2020 quarter, and increased its revenue growth guidance for FY21 to 4.5-5 per cent on the back of large project wins and strong deal pipeline.

"We believe the underlying strength of the market remains intact, and any correction in the market will be bought out. A sustained recovery in key economic data for Dec’20, better-than-expected 3QFY21 corporate earnings so far and upbeat management commentaries continue to augur well for the market," said Binod Modi Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities.

US stocks mostly finished marginally higher as investors remained focused on higher fiscal stimulus from US president-elect Joe Biden's administration.

"However, development around the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump is unlikely to have any meaningful impact on markets. Further, remarks by Fed's Brainard about the continuity of the broad-based bond-buying program for quite sometimes offered comfort to equities," he added.

 

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Published on January 14, 2021
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