In a remarkable turnaround during the latter half of Friday’s trading, India’s leading stock indices witnessed a notable rebound, buoyed by a surge in investments within the banking, financial, and pharmaceutical sectors. This upswing comes on the heels of anticipatory trades ahead of the concluding portion of third-quarter corporate earnings and crucial economic data expected this week.
Reflecting on the week’s market dynamics, the Nifty index experienced a slight dip, shedding 120 points or 0.55%, to settle at 21,782.5. Concurrently, the BSE Sensex faced a steeper decline, dropping 723.21 points or 1%, to close at 71,595.49. Despite the broader market downturn, public sector banks emerged as the week’s standout performers, notably led by a significant 12% increase in the State Bank of India’s shares over five trading days.
A sharp downturn in the broader domestic market, primarily attributed to escalating crude oil prices and subdued international market activity, influenced market sentiment. The Lunar New Year celebrations across several Asian markets further dampened the latter. Despite these challenges, the Nifty Midcap 100 index managed to conclude the week 0.85% higher, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index saw a marginal decline of 0.05%.
Amidst these market movements, an industry expert highlighted a significant overhaul in governance within public sector undertakings (PSUs), particularly in the banking sector. This transformation, seen as a pivotal step towards enhancing operational efficiencies and service delivery, aims to address critical concerns such as governance frameworks, technological advancements, and asset quality.
In the realm of investment flows, foreign investors emerged as net purchasers on February 9, injecting ₹141.95 crore into the market. In contrast, domestic investors adopted a more cautious stance, withdrawing ₹421.87 crore from equities, reflecting a diverse range of strategies and outlooks among market participants.
Here are the key stocks to keep an eye on before the trading session on Monday:
- The Rane Group has announced a consolidation plan, merging Rane Brake Lining and Rane Engine Valve into Rane (Madras) Ltd. Investors will receive 21 Rane (Madras) shares for every 20 Rane Brake shares held, and 9 Rane (Madras) shares for every 20 Rane Engine shares.
- The government-run ONGC reported a profit of ₹9,536 crore for the December quarter, marking a 13.7% decrease from the same period last year. Its revenue dropped by 9.8% year-over-year to ₹34,789 crore, with a 6.4% decrease in the average price of crude oil to $81.59 per barrel.
- The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) experienced a net loss of ₹5.35 crore in the December quarter, a downturn from a profit of ₹38.79 crore in the same quarter the previous year, despite a 33.4% increase in revenue to ₹191.5 crore.
- Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels is set to make its stock market debut on February 12, with an initial share price set at ₹155.
