Indian equity markets showed little movement on Friday as global cues from Asian and US markets remained mixed. Nifty traded at 23,663, down 0.11%, while Sensex stood at 75,251, down 0.2% in the morning session. Sectors like Nifty Metal, Nifty Realty, and Nifty Oil & Gas saw losses of up to 1%, with companies like Hindalco Industries and Asian Paints among the top losers.
On the flip side, Nifty IT and Nifty Auto were the top gainers. Small-cap and micro-cap stocks faced pressure. Market experts noted a cautious approach by the government in gradually raising petrol, diesel, and CNG prices to avoid sudden inflation spikes.
Investors were advised to monitor market trends closely, especially the strong response to Q4 earnings. The market showed varied reactions, with some stocks gaining double digits and others facing sharp declines. Notably, IT stocks weakened while pharmaceutical stocks remained robust, reflecting market sentiments towards these sectors.
In the commodities market, Brent crude rose by 1.57% to $107.38, and US WTI crude increased by 1.72% to $102.92. Asian markets saw mixed trends, with Japan’s Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declining around 1% each, and South Korea’s KOSPI dropping over 3%. In the US, Wall Street closed positively, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both posting gains.
