Indian shares kept sliding on Friday, marking a fifth consecutive day of losses as global tensions and trade worries dampened investor mood.
Market Overview
The Nifty 50 opened lower and fell another 193 points, ending at 25,683 – a drop of 0.75%. The S&P BSE Sensex closed at 83,574, down 0.72%.
For the week, the Nifty slipped 2.45%, its biggest weekly fall in over three months, while the Sensex fell 2.55%, the steepest five‑day decline since September.
Sector Performance
Most sectors were in the red. Only the Oil & Gas and IT indices managed to stay positive.
- Realty fell 2.16% – the biggest loser.
- Chemicals and Consumer Durables each dropped about 1.5%.
- FMCG, Auto and Pharma fell 1.13%, 1.10% and 0.86% respectively.
- Mid‑cap and small‑cap indices also slipped, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.8% and the Smallcap 100 down 2%.
Top Losers
Several big‑cap stocks led the sell‑off:
- Elecon Engineering dropped 16% after a weak December‑quarter earnings report.
- Indian Energy Exchange fell 8% following a court‑hearing schedule for a market‑coupling case.
- Manappuram Finance slid 7.6% after the RBI raised concerns over a proposed Bain deal.
- Force Motors added another 7% loss, extending a five‑day slide.
- Transformers & Rectifiers fell 6% despite early‑session gains.
Overall, about 75 stocks closed with losses exceeding 3%.
Top Gainers
Even in a weak market, a few stocks managed to rise:
- National Aluminium led the gainers, up 4.4%.
- Hindustan Zinc rebounded 2.7% after a two‑day fall.
- Other modest gainers included Leela Palaces & Hotels, Oil India, Coforge, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Ashok Leyland, Coromandel International, Petronet LNG, CCL Products India, Asian Paints and Ipca Laboratories, each up between 1.5% and 2.5%.
Analyst View
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, said the market is stuck in a consolidation phase because of weak global cues, higher bond yields and ongoing foreign‑institutional outflows. He added that domestic GDP growth remains solid and upcoming Q3 earnings could help mid‑caps recover, potentially steadying sentiment. However, he expects the market to stay range‑bound for now, given the geopolitical and trade uncertainties.
Disclaimer
Remember, this is just an overview, not a prediction. Always do your own research or consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.