Sensex slumps 416 pts on profit-booking; Kotak Bank tanks 5 pc

Mumbai, January 20

Market benchmarks tumbled from record highs to close deep in the red on Monday as investors booked profits in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank and TCS following their quarterly results.

After hitting a record intra-day high of 42,273.87, the 30-share BSE Sensex gave up all gains to settle 416.46 points, or 0.99 per cent, lower at 41,528.91.

Likewise, the broader NSE Nifty sank 127.80 points, or 1.03 per cent, to 12,224.55. It hit a record intra-day high of 12,430.50 in early session.

Kotak Mahindra Bank was the biggest laggard in the Sensex pack, dropping 4.70 per cent, after the lender reported a rise in non-performing assets in Q3.

Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and TCS fell up to 3.08 per cent after the companies reported their quarterly earnings over the weekend.

On the other hand, PowerGrid was the top gainer, rising 3.75 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel, ITC, Asian Paints, ICICI Bank and L&T.

According to traders, domestic investors were seen booking profits at record levels.

“As expected, market has approached a consolidation phase due to mildly subdued Q3 results in banking and heavyweights. It is fair to expect this mild consolidation to continue in the short-term after the solid performance of the last one-month with fantastic gains in mid & small caps.

“For further direction a lot will depend on the actual budget announcements and broader performance in Q3 result showing gain across the economy,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services Ltd.

BSE energy, bankex, oil and gas, finance, metal, IT and auto indices fell up to 2.67 per cent, while telecom, realty, utilities and power rose up to 1.89 per cent.

Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices lost up to 0.57 per cent.

World markets maintained their upward trend as investors digested earnings and macroeconomic data.

Bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul ended higher, while Hong Kong closed in the red.

European markets were trading on a negative note in their early sessions.

Brent crude oil futures rose 0.66 per cent to USD 65.28 per barrel on supply concerns after exports from Libya were blocked after a pipeline was shut down by armed forces and a strike at a key oil field in Iraq hit output.

The rupee depreciated 5 paise to 71.13 per US dollar (intra-day). — PTI