Benchmark indices end in red on US rate hike fears

• Weak trend in Asian mkts

• Fresh foreign fund outflows

• Selling pressure in HDFC twins

• Mkts in red for 6th day in row

Mumbai: Benchmark indices pared early gains and ended lower on Friday in line with weak trend in Asian markets and concerns that the US Federal Reserve might raise interest rates further to curb inflation. Fresh foreign fund outflows and selling pressure in HDFC twins also dented investor sentiments. The BSE Sensex declined 141.87 points or 0.24 per cent to settle at 59,463.93 despite a firm start.

During the day, it fell 280.46 points or 0.47 per cent to 59,325.34. The NSE Nifty dipped 45.45 points or 0.26 per cent to end at 17,465.80.

“The Nifty opened on a positive note however it could not sustain at higher levels and as the day progressed it continued to drift lower to close the day on a negative note for the sixth consecutive day,” said Jatin Gedia, Technical Research Analyst, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas.

In the Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Maruti, Larsen & Toubro, HDFC, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra and Bharti Airtel were the major laggards. Asian Paints, Bajaj Finserv, Power Grid, Reliance Industries, NTPC and UltraTech Cement were among the gainers.

"The domestic market is broadly demonstrating a lack of confidence, registering its sixth consecutive day of losses despite global markets turning green. Continued selling in the domestic market by FIIs is acting as an overhang in sustaining the early gains. Crude oil prices rallied as the prospect of lower Russian exports outweighed rising US inventory," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

In the broader market, the BSE midcap gauge dipped 0.17 per cent and smallcap index declined 0.15 per cent. Among the sectoral indices, metal tanked 2.39 per cent, commodities fell by 1.17 per cent, auto (0.99 per cent), reatlty (0.70 per cent), FMCG (0.40 per cent), power (0.38 per cent) and consumer discretionary (0.37 per cent). Energy, healthcare, consumer durables, oil & gas were the gainers. In Asian markets, South Korea, China and Hong Kong ended lower, while Japan settled in the green. Equity markets in Europe were trading in the green during afternoon trade. The US markets ended higher on Thursday. International oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.92 per cent to USD 82.97 per barrel. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 1,417.24 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.

Investors lose Rs. 8.30 lakh cr

Stock market investors became poorer by Rs 8.30 lakh crore as equities continued their slide for the sixth consecutive day on Friday. The BSE Sensex has tumbled 1,855.58 points or 3 per cent since February 16. During this period, the combined market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms has tanked Rs 8,30,322.61 crore to reach Rs 2,60,00,662.99 crore.