Markets ended flat ahead of January F&O contracts expiry tomorrow. Markets closed flat with a slight negative bias after a volatile session that saw key benchmark indices move in a narrow range.
Small- and mid-cap stocks continued facing selling pressure due to stretched valuations.
Hindustan Unilever and pharma stocks were on buyers' radar; rate-sensitives faced jitters ahead of the credit policy.
Equity investments are fruitful over the very long 20-year term.
The 30-share BSE Sensex closed at 20,865 down almost 29 points or 0.1% while the broader 50-share Nifty index closed at 6203 down 2 points.
Market now awaits US jobs data for further direction on US Fed's stance on its QE.
Emerging business theme-based funds basically invest into mid and small-cap stocks, which normally have the potential to grow faster.
Gains in banking ICICI Bank, Tata Motors and Wipro was offest by losses in ITC, HDFC and Sun Pharma.
The 50-share NSE Nifty too closed down 168.30 points, or 1.58 per cent, at 10,498.25 -- a level last seen on January 3 when it closed at 10,443.20.
BSE Auto was the top sectoral loser with a 4.6% fall followed by realty sector down 3.7% and consumer durables 3.6% post disappointing IIP numbers
India's benchmark index, Sensex ended on a flat note after a volatile trading session as investors braced for the US Federal Reserve policy meeting with caution.
The BSE benchmark Sensex on fell by 54 points in early trade due to profit-booking after two sessions of gains amid disappointing industrial production and retail inflation data.
Most sectoral indices up; observers await Budget for details on policy reforms.
ONGC, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, Mahindra & Mahindra and ITC among the top gainers.
Balanced funds may be a good option for first-time investors.
Running a SIP plan for more than six years almost completely eliminates the chances of earning negative returns.
The broader markets ended firm with mid-caps and small-caps gaining over 1 per cent on the BSE.
'Investors should be careful in getting carried away; although a reversal of IPO frenzy this time is taking longer than in the past.'
Given the developments, analysts expect fiscal and monetary support from the government and RBI to revive sentiment. However, recovery, they say, from these levels will be slow and painful.
Aptech, Lumax Industries, Vedanta, Indian Bank, Venky's India have appreciated over 200% in a year
How did marquee Dalal Street investors fare in the Jan-Mar quarter that saw the BSE Sensex tank 10 per cent?
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Close to 50 companies have announced stock splits this year so far, something experts say is typical in a bull phase.
ONGC was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 16 per cent, followed by Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, TCS, SBI, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Auto.
Surrendering most of early gains, the BSE benchmark Sensex was quoting higher by 26 points in the late morning trade on Wednesday on persistent buying, mainly in realty, metal, banking and consumer durable sectors.
'The market won't wait for earnings to recover.'
And why markets could give up 25 per cent of all these gains made since March 2020
The NSE Nifty after shuttling between 10,441.90 and 10,341.90, ended 6.15 points, or 0.06 per cent down at 10,380.45.
The Sensex ended higher by 138 points at 19,367 and the 50-share Nifty advanced 43 points to close at 5,742.
Tata Motors was the top gainer among the Sensex stocks.
From the BSE 30-share blue chip pack, 27 scrips ended with losses led by SBI and Tata Steel.
Plunged as much as 60% in some cases, amid panic selling on speculations of sale of pledged shares.
Over 25 per cent of the net flows have been directed toward the large-cap category as investors preferred to put money in the top 100 stocks by market capitalisation because the segment has been the most resilient over the past year.
But the 30-share Sensex rose by 141.52 points, or 0.41 per cent, to close at 34,297.47. The broader NSE Nifty gained 44.60- points, or 0.42 per cent, to end at 10,545.50 after touching a high of 10,618.10.
ICICI Bank topped the Sensex gainers' chart, spurting 5.09 per cent, followed by L&T, Bharti Airtel, Vedanta and Tata Motors, rising up to 4.60 per cent.
It is best not to get carried away by returns or take a short-term view of the markets, says Bhavana Acharya.
The broader markets gained mid-caps and small-caps rising 0.3-0.4% on the BSE.
A declining rupee, elevated crude oil prices and sustained foreign fund outflows added to the gloom
Some of the top indebted companies likely to face financial headwinds in the coming quarters include NTPC, PowerGrid, Tata Steel, Adani Power, JSW Steel, UPL, and Steel Authority of India. Together these 201 companies owed Rs 14.9 trillion to their lenders at the end of September 30, 2019, up 4.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) during the first half of FY20.
When selecting investments, pay attention to potential return, risk and how easily you can exit it.
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