MUMBAI: Â Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slipped on Friday as investors went for profit-taking in information technology shares and Bharti Airtel, following a sharp rally in the previous session.
The BSE Sensex declined 200.15 points or 0.24 per cent to close at 82,330.59. During the day, it dropped as much as 383.79 points or 0.46 per cent to 82,146.95.
The NSE Nifty fell 42.30 points or 0.17 per cent to settle at 25,019.80.
Bharti Airtel was the top drag, falling 2.81 per cent after Singapore-based Singtel sold around 1.2 per cent of its direct stake in the company for about $1.5 billion.
Singtel said the transaction was part of its active capital management strategy to optimise its asset portfolio and deliver sustainable shareholder returns.
Other major laggards in the Sensex included HCL Tech, State Bank of India (SBI), Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, Bajaj Finserv, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra and Titan.
On the other hand, Eicher Motors, Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, ITC, Tata Motors and NTPC ended with gains.
Markets languished in negative territory throughout the session and ended weak due to selective profit-taking in IT, banking and metal shares.
“However, broader indices like mid and smallcaps, along with most sectoral stocks ending in the green, show that investors remain cautiously optimistic despite global uncertainties,” said Prashanth Tapse, Senior Vice President (Research), Mehta Equities.
The BSE smallcap index rose 1.18 per cent, while the midcap index advanced 0.85 per cent.
Among sectoral indices, industrials led the gains, rising 1.80 per cent, followed by realty (1.72 per cent), capital goods (1.63 per cent), utilities (1.44 per cent), power (1.37 per cent) and consumer discretionary (0.87 per cent). IT, teck, BSE Focused IT, metal and bankex were among the losers.
For the week, the Sensex added 2,876.12 points or 3.61 per cent, while the Nifty gained 1,011.8 points or 4.21 per cent.
No fresh triggers
“Markets traded lacklustre after Thursday’s surge and ended marginally lower in the absence of fresh triggers. Consolidation in heavyweight stocks across sectors kept gains in check,” said Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President, Research, Religare Broking.
Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said investor sentiment remained upbeat, with sustained momentum in mid- and smallcap stocks, as well as rate-sensitive sectors such as real estate, NBFCs, automobiles and consumer durables.
Among Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225, Shanghai’s SSE Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed lower, while South Korea’s Kospi ended higher. European markets were trading in positive territory, and US markets closed mostly higher on Thursday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude inched up 0.09 per cent to $64.59 a barrel.
Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 5,392.94 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
On Thursday, the Sensex had jumped 1,200.18 points or 1.48 per cent to end at a seven-month high of 82,530.74. The Nifty had surged 395.20 points or 1.60 per cent to close at 25,062.10, also a seven-month peak.
