Sensex ends 192 points lower post RBI policy

TCS was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack, sliding 3.17 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, RIL, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Tata Steel, Kotak Bank and L&T, down up to 2.34 per cent.

The BSE Sensex closed 192 points lower on Thursday after the RBI lowered GDP growth forecast for 2019-20 and kept its monetary policy stance 'neutral' amid uncertainty over monsoon.

In its first bi-monthly policy review for this financial year, the central bank cut the key interest rate by 0.25 per cent for the second time in a row.

After a volatile session, the 30-share Sensex index settled 192.40 points, or 0.49 per cent, lower at 38,684.72.

In similar movement, the broader NSE Nifty slipped below the 11,600 mark, ending 45.95 points, or 0.39 per cent, down at 11,598.

TCS was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack, sliding 3.17 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, RIL, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Tata Steel, Kotak Bank and L&T, down up to 2.34 per cent.

On the other hand, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Bharti Airtel, HDFC, Asian Paints, Vedanta and Sun Pharma were among the top gainers, rising up to 2.49 per cent.

Sectorally, BSE IT, energy and oil and gas indices suffered most losses, shedding up to 1.53 per cent.

Rate-sensitive stocks ended on a mixed note, with the BSE auto and realty indices ending in the green with gains of up to 0.61 per cent. BSE bankex, however, ended 0.67 per cent lower.

Broader indices too ended in the red, with the BSE Midcap and Smallcap slipping up to 0.32 per cent.

"Investors turned cautious about the downward revision in GDP growth to 7.2 per cent for FY20 while premium valuation and concerns over monsoon further impacted the sentiment," said Vinod Nair, head of research, Geojit Financial Services.

In an attempt to propel economy ahead of the general elections, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday lowered the benchmark interest rate by 0.25 per cent for the second time in a row to the lowest level in one year on softening inflation.

The central bank, however, kept its monetary policy stance 'neutral' over uncertainty over monsoon, and also lowered the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2019-20 to 7.2 per cent from 7.4 per cent predicted in the February policy.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) pulled out Rs 1,040.48 crore on Wednesday, and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold equities to the tune of Rs 80.83 crore, provisional data available with stock exchanges showed.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters