Sensex down by 359 points to close at 55,566; Nifty ends session at 16,584
Equity benchmarks declined on Tuesday after a three-day rally, with the Sensex falling 359.33 points amid selling in index majors HDFC, Reliance Industries and Infosys.Investors were cautious ahead of release of GDP data, while a jump in crude oil prices also weighed on market sentiment, traders said.The 30-share BSE Sensex went lower by 359.33 points or 0.64 per cent to settle at 55,566.41. During the day, it tanked 556.6 points or 0.99 per cent to 55,369.14.The broader NSE Nifty declined 76.85 points or 0.46 per cent to end at 16,584.55.From the Sensex pack, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC, Infosys, State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank were the major laggards.In contrast, M&M, NTPC, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra and Tata Steel were among the gainers.Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong settled with gains, while Tokyo ended marginally lower.Markets in Europe were trading mostly lower during the afternoon trade.Stock markets in the US were closed for a holiday on Monday.Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 1.64 per cent to USD 123.66 per barrel.Foreign institutional investors turned net buyers as they bought shares worth ₹502.08 crore on Monday, as per stock exchange data.”Domestic market failed to hold on to recovery mode as it was awaiting the release of GDP data. A hike in oil prices due to the EU’s ban on Russian oil imports would act as a headwind in taming global inflation. Changes in policy by central banks would be a major factor to be monitored in the coming days,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.
