Markets end lower led by financial stocks; Sensex slumps 435 pts on profit-booking in HDFC twins, Nifty ends below 18,000

5 Apr 2022 , 04:09 PM

Domestic markets took a breather after yesterday’s surge and ended lower. After the flat start, the benchmark hovered in a range and ended around the day’s low dragged by heavyweights and a lack of cues from other Asian markets, many of which were shut for a public holiday.

A day after HDFC twins’ stellar run on merger news, some traders resorted to booking profits, and both HDFC and HDFC Bank scrips retreated over 2-3%.

Amid all, sectoral indices traded mixed wherein profit booking in banking & financials dragged the indices lower. However, buying in power, consumer durables, and FMCG packs capped the downside.

The broader indices were up in the range of 1.5-1.6% respectively.

MPC’s monetary policy review meet and the beginning of the earnings season in this week.

The 30-share pack Sensex declined 435.24 points or 0.72% but managed to close above the 60,000 mark. Its broader peer NSE Nifty fell 96 points or 0.53%, to close at 17,957, below 18,000.

HDFC Bank was the biggest loser, followed by Bajaj Finserv, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance and Reliance Industries were other stocks that settled lower today on the BSE. On the flip side, NTPC and Power Grid gained over 2% each, Titan, TCS, ITC, Nestle, and HCL Tech were other stocks to close in green. 

The overall market breadth on BSE stood positive as 2,344 shares advanced while 1,055 declined.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures surged 1.44 per cent to $109.10 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 1.51 per cent.