Domestic indices fall sharply amid bearish global trends

PTI

Mumbai, September 23

The Sensex tumbled 1,020 points while the Nifty crashed below the 17,350-mark on Friday as a flurry of rate hikes by global central banks spooked investors and sparked a global selloff.

The rupee breached the 81-mark against the US dollar in intra-day trade for the first time ever, adding to the negative sentiment.

Investors poorer by Rs 4.90 lakh cr

• Investors’ wealth eroded by over Rs 4.90 lakh crore on Friday amid a sharp fall in equities
• This is the third day of decline for the equity market and the Sensex has fallen by 1,620.82 points during this time
• In three days, investors wealth has eroded by Rs 6,77,646.74 crore
• The m-cap of the BSE-listed firms plummeted by Rs 4,90,162.55 crore to Rs 2,76,64,566.79 crore on Friday

Sliding for the third straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 1,020.80 points to close at 58,098.92.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty plummeted 302.45 points to end at 17,327.35.

PowerGrid led the Sensex losers’ chart with a drop of 7.93%, followed by M&M, SBI, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, NTPC, HDFC and IndusInd Bank.

SENSEX SINKS 1,020.80 POINTS

RUPEE DIPS TO 81.09 /USD

CLOSES AT 58,098.92

• NSE Nifty plummeted 302.45 points to end at 17,327.35
• Power Grid was the biggest loser followed by M&M, SBI, Bajaj Finserv & Bajaj Finance

Only three counters managed to close in the green — Sun Pharma, Tata Steel and ITC, spurting up to 1.53%.

“A rise in the US 10-year bond yield and a strong dollar index influenced FIIs to flee emerging markets. Fall in liquidity in the banking system, a weak currency and a current premium valuation have set the market outlook bearish for the near term.

“With aggressive monetary policy action by central banks, the global growth engines are in a slowdown mode, whereas India is currently in a better position with a pickup in credit growth and an uptick in tax collection. The current volatility might persist for a while. Investors are advised to wait and watch until the dust settles,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

On a weekly basis, the Sensex lost 741.87 points while the Nifty declined 203.50 points.

Joseph Thomas, Head of Research, Emkay Wealth Management, said the domestic equity markets traded lower mainly tracking the developments in overseas markets, especially the US.

“The Fed rate hike and the stance that rate hikes would continue till inflation is contained displayed in ample measure an aggressive and hawkish Fed. Even if its costs a little bit of economic growth so be it, has been the stated approach....This has affected the equity markets, and this has sent its reverberations across the world.

“More than anything else, it is the expectations of higher interest rates and lower liquidity that is at the back of the mind of many an investor. High inflation, widening trade deficit, weakening currencies and a likely slowdown in growth may entrap some of the emerging market economies,” he added.