Stock markets muscle through intense volatility amid buying rush in heavyweights
Mumbai, Jul 4 (PTI): Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Friday in a highly volatile trade amid a buying rush in banking and other bellwether stocks on the back of a rally in the US markets.
After oscillating between highs and lows in intra-day trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 193.42 points or 0.23 per cent higher at 83,432.89. During the day, it hit a high of 83,477.86 and a low of 83,015.83, gyrating 462.03 points.
The 50-share NSE Nifty inched up by 55.70 points or 0.22 per cent to 25,461.
From the Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Bank, HCL Tech, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank and Larsen & Toubro were among the major gainers.
However, Trent, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra and Maruti were among the laggards.
"The tone was negative in the first half; however, a decent recovery in heavyweight stocks pared all the losses as the day progressed, helping the index close near the day's high at the 25,461 level.
"With all eyes on the impending US-India trade deal as the tariff deadline approaches, participants are hopeful for a favourable outcome, which could provide the much-needed trigger for the next leg of the market up move," Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.
The BSE midcap gauge went up by 0.23 per cent and smallcap index climbed marginally by 0.17 per cent.
Among BSE sectoral indices, oil & gas jumped 1.26 per cent, energy (0.90 per cent), realty (0.87 per cent), IT (0.67 per cent), healthcare (0.64 per cent), BSE Focused IT (0.65 per cent) and teck (0.52 per cent).
Metal, telecommunication, auto, consumer discretionary and commodities were the laggards.
As many as 2,261 stocks advanced while 1,788 declined and 140 remained unchanged on the BSE.
"The Indian market is experiencing a pause as investors adopt a wait-and-watch strategy ahead of the impending US tariff deadline with mixed global cues. Ongoing FII outflows reflect a risk-off approach, while DII inflows are offering partial support.
"Following the recent rally, main indices are hovering near peak valuation levels, limiting further upside, which is highly dependent on Q1 earnings and details of the trade deal," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.
In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Shanghai's SSE Composite index settled higher while South Korea's Kospi and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended lower.
European markets were trading in the negative territory.
The US markets ended in the positive territory on Thursday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude dropped 1.03 per cent to USD 68.03 a barrel.
Meanwhile, markets regulator Sebi has barred US-based Jane Street Group from the securities markets and directed the group to disgorge unlawful gains of Rs 4,843 crore for allegedly manipulating stock indices through positions taken in derivatives segment.
This could be the highest disgorgement amount ever directed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 1,481.19 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 1,333.06 crore.
On Thursday, the Sensex dropped by 170.22 points or 0.20 per cent to settle at 83,239.47. The Nifty declined by 48.10 points or 0.19 per cent to 25,405.30.
"Indian equity markets opened on a flat note Friday as investors remained cautious ahead of a potential India–US trade agreement and digested regulatory action against a major global trading entity. Both indices dipped during mid-session but recovered to end on a positive note...," Gaurav Garg, Analyst, Lemonn Markets Desk, said.
On the weekly front, the BSE benchmark gauge dropped 626.01 points or 0.74 per cent, and the Nifty declined 176.8 points or 0.68 per cent.
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Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
