Indian benchmark indices ended lower on Friday, snapping their three-session winning streak as rising crude oil prices and higher retail inflation weighed on investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 318.56 points, or 0.39 per cent, to settle at 81,592.45. The NSE Nifty 50 fell 155.05 points, or 0.61 per cent, to close at 25,144.30.
Both indices witnessed sharp volatility during the session. The Sensex touched an intraday low of 81,288.75, while the Nifty slipped to 25,054.40.
Investor sentiment remained under pressure following the release of India’s October retail inflation data. Consumer Price Index-based inflation rose to 6.09 per cent, crossing the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for the first time in two years. The increase has fuelled concerns over the possibility of tighter monetary policy.
Elevated crude oil prices added to market worries, with Brent crude trading above $95 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Concerns over rising oil prices have also raised questions about their potential impact on India’s inflation and economic outlook.
Sectoral performance remained largely weak, with Nifty Realty declining 1.39 per cent, followed by Nifty Auto, which dropped 1.07 per cent. Nifty Metal, Private Bank and IT indices also ended in the red.
Among individual Nifty 50 stocks, Shriram Finance emerged as the biggest loser, falling 3.37 per cent. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles declined 3.31 per cent, while Grasim Industries, Hindalco Industries and Adani Enterprises also recorded losses.
On the gaining side, Eicher Motors, Hindustan Unilever, BSE, Asian Paints and Bharti Airtel were among the stocks that ended higher.
Market breadth remained negative, with 38 Nifty 50 constituents closing lower, 11 advancing and one remaining unchanged. Broader markets also witnessed losses, as the Nifty Midcap 100 fell 0.24 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 0.26 per cent.
Despite Friday’s decline, both benchmark indices remained positive for the week. The Sensex gained around 0.7 per cent, while the Nifty 50 advanced approximately 0.5 per cent, supported by sustained foreign investor inflows.
