Markets extend losses for 3rd session; Sensex tanks 690 points on selling in IT, auto stocks
Mumbai, Jul 11 (PTI): Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined for the third session in a row on Friday, dropping nearly 1 per cent, dragged by heavy selling in IT, auto and energy stocks amid a muted start of the earnings season.
Tariff-related uncertainties and mixed global market trends also added to the pressure, analysts said.
The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 689.81 points or 0.83 per cent to settle at 82,500.47. During the day, it fell 748.03 points or 0.89 per cent to 82,442.25.
As many as 2,450 stocks declined while 1,557 advanced and 158 remained unchanged on the BSE.
Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 205.40 points or 0.81 per cent to 25,149.85.
On the weekly front, the BSE benchmark dropped 932.42 points or 1.11 per cent, and the Nifty tanked 311.15 points or 1.22 per cent.
"While weak European market cues and negative US Dow Futures weighed on sentiment, the disappointing start to earnings season by software major TCS cautioned investors about the sluggish global demand scenario that led to heavy selling in IT, telecom, auto, realty and oil & gas stocks," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
From the Sensex firms, Tata Consultancy Services declined 3.46 per cent after reporting its June quarter earnings.
The country's largest IT services company on Thursday reported a 6 per cent growth in June quarter net profit at Rs 12,760 crore, helped by a jump in non-core income even as revenues grew at a tepid pace.
The rupee revenue grew 1.3 per cent to Rs 63,437 crore during the quarter. Still, it was down by over 3 per cent on a constant currency basis, as the company faced headwinds in its major markets amid a winding down of the BSNL deal, which helped it in recent quarters.
Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Titan, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, Reliance Industries, Trent, Infosys and HDFC Bank were among the other major laggards from the pack.
"Markets traded under pressure on Friday and lost over half a per cent, dragged down by weak cues. The session began on a negative note following disappointing results from IT major TCS, which further worsened due to profit-taking in heavyweight stocks across other sectors. Sentiment remained subdued due to ongoing uncertainty around tariff-related issues and a weak start to the earnings season," Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.
Meanwhile, shares of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) surged 4.61 per cent following the announcement that Priya Nair will become the first woman CEO and MD of the firm, effective August 1, 2025.
Axis Bank, NTPC, Eternal and State Bank of India were also among the gainers.
"The domestic market experienced a negative close due to a sober start to Q1 earnings season and a ramp-up in the tariff threat by the US to impose a 35 per cent tariff on Canada. Investors may continue to be focused on quarterly earnings for a buy-on-dips strategy. However, in the near term, the current premium valuation and the global headwinds like low spending and tariff uncertainties may restrain new inflows.
"The IT index underperformed due to deferment in orders and new investments, which may impact FY26 earnings estimates," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
The BSE smallcap gauge declined 0.70 per cent, and the midcap index dropped 0.65 per cent.
On BSE sectoral indicators, teck tumbled 1.85 per cent, BSE Focused IT tanked 1.77 per cent, IT (1.65 per cent), auto (1.72 per cent), oil & gas (1.28 per cent), consumer discretionary (1.23 per cent), and telecommunication (1.22 per cent).
In contrast, healthcare and FMCG were the gainers.
In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index settled lower, while Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended higher.
European markets were trading lower in mid-session trade.
The US markets ended in positive territory on Thursday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.31 per cent to USD 68.85 a barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 221.06 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
On Thursday, the Sensex dropped 345.80 points or 0.41 per cent to settle at 83,190.28. On similar lines, the Nifty declined 120.85 points or 0.47 per cent to 25,355.25.
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If you have a conscience, apologize to the people: R Ashoka slams Yathindra over Nalwadi comparison
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka launched a scathing attack on MLC Dr. Yathindra, demanding that he retract his controversial statement comparing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the late Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Ashoka urged Yathindra to apologize to the people of Karnataka if he had even a shred of conscience and any respect for the Mysuru royal lineage.
In a strongly worded social media post on Sunday, Ashoka stated, “Comparing Siddaramaiah to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is nothing short of absurd. Where is Nalwadi, who was bestowed the title of ‘Rajarshi’ by Mahatma Gandhi himself, and where is Siddaramaiah, who has stooped to being a puppet in the hands of fake Gandhis for the sake of power?”
He continued his critique by contrasting the enduring legacy of Nalwadi, remembered fondly by Kannadigas for his people-centric development, with what he termed as Siddaramaiah’s failure to manage Karnataka’s economy, burdening every household with debt.
Ashoka highlighted several stark differences, while Nalwadi built Mysore University over a century ago, Siddaramaiah is shutting down nine universities due to lack of funds. Nalwadi famously sold his family’s gold to build the KRS dam, whereas Siddaramaiah is accused of grabbing 14 sites meant for the public. Nalwadi established Bhadravati Iron & Steel Plant, Sandalwood Soap Factory, and Mysore Paper Mills. In contrast, Ashoka claimed Siddaramaiah's governance drove away industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. Nalwadi pioneered reservations for the backward classes long before it became mainstream. Siddaramaiah, Ashoka alleged, is reducing social justice to a gimmick by sticking labels on doors in the name of surveys.
While acknowledging Yathindra’s emotional attachment to his father, Ashoka emphasized that comparing Siddaramaiah to a visionary like Nalwadi was “laughable, baseless, and a gross insult” to the late king.
In his concluding remarks, Ashoka slammed the government for ignoring farmers’ needs despite an early monsoon. He accused the administration of being caught up in internal power struggles and negligence, forcing farmers into despair. “This government will not be spared from the curse of the farmers,” he warned.
