Indian benchmark indices BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 erased their early gains and slipped into negative territory on Friday as investors resorted to profit booking following the outcome of the Reserve Bank of India monetary policy meeting.
While the RBI's decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% was largely in line with market expectations, traders chose to lock in gains at higher levels amid cautious commentary on global uncertainties, rising energy prices, and geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
The 30-share benchmark index ended at 74243.34 down by -116.67 points or by -0.16 % and then NSE Nifty was at 23366.7 down by -49.85 points or by -0.21 %.
Sensex touched intraday high of 74717.57 and intraday low of 73988.75 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 23516.35 and intraday low of 23282.65
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2121.80,+2.10%), Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. (Rs. 1823.10,+1.82%), Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 889.15,+1.75%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1273.15,+1.66%), Asian Paints Ltd. (Rs. 2685.15,+0.88%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Trent Ltd. (Rs. 2774.65,-2.21%), Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Rs. 2198.25,-1.85%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 206.80,-1.78%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 361.65,-1.28%), HCL Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 1154.45,-1.20%), among others.
Realty index was at 5995.84 up by 34.84 points or by 0.58%. Prestige Estates Projects Ltd. (Rs. 1380.65,+1.75%), Lodha Developers Ltd. (Rs. 892.50,+1.21%), Phoenix Mills Ltd. (Rs. 1745.20,+1.02%), Godrej Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1708.90,+0.90%), DLF Ltd. (Rs. 578.95,+0.21%),.
Metal index was at 43212.52 down by -709.37 points or by -1.62%. Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Rs. 567.00,-6.09%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 395.60,-4.43%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 190.45,-3.32%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1092.45,-2.96%), Coal India Ltd. (Rs. 472.30,-1.96%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4658 , shares advanced were 2142 while 2266 shares declined and 250 were unchanged.